Scleral & Keratoconus Contact Lenses

Custom prosthetic scleral lenses for keratoconus, post-RK corneas, corneal ectasia, severe dry eye, and other complex eye conditions.

At Vision Source – Orland Park, we specialize in custom scleral and prosthetic scleral contact lenses for patients whose vision or comfort cannot be fully corrected with glasses, soft contact lenses, or standard contact lens designs.

Scleral lenses can be especially helpful for patients with keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, corneal ectasia, post-RK vision distortion, post-surgical corneas, corneal transplant history, severe dry eye, Sjögren’s-related ocular surface disease, and other complex corneal or ocular surface conditions.

These lenses vault over the sensitive cornea and rest gently on the white part of the eye, creating a smooth optical surface and a protective fluid reservoir. For many patients, this can improve comfort, reduce glare and distortion, and provide clearer, more stable vision.

Scleral lenses may help provide:

• Clearer, more stable vision
• Improved comfort compared with many standard contact lenses
• Reduced glare, halos, ghosting, and visual distortion
• Protection and hydration for severe dry eye
• Better vision for many irregular corneas

How Scleral Contact Lenses Work

Scleral lenses vault over the cornea, creating a fluid reservoir between the lens and the eye.

Scleral contact lenses are larger than standard contact lenses. Instead of resting

directly on the cornea, they vault over the cornea and rest gently on the sclera, the white part of the eye.

The space between the lens and the cornea is filled with preservative-free saline, creating a smooth optical surface and a protective fluid reservoir. This can be especially helpful for patients with irregular corneas, keratoconus, post-RK vision distortion, corneal scarring, and severe dry eye.

Because the lens vaults over the most sensitive part of the eye, many patients find scleral lenses surprisingly comfortable compared with other specialty contact lens designs.

Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest gently on the white part of the eye.

Conditions Scleral Lenses May Help

Scleral lenses can be helpful for many patients with irregular corneas or ocular surface disease, especially when glasses, soft contact lenses, or standard contact lenses do not provide adequate vision or comfort.

Irregular cornea and distorted vision

• Keratoconus
• Pellucid marginal degeneration
• Corneal ectasia
• Corneal scarring
• Ghosting, halos, glare, double vision, or distorted vision from an irregular corneal surface

Post-surgical and complex corneas

• Post-RK vision distortion
• Post-LASIK or post-PRK irregularity
• Corneal transplant history
• Other complex pre- or post-surgical corneal conditions

Severe dry eye and ocular surface disease

• Severe dry eye
• Sjögren’s-related dry eye
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• Light sensitivity, redness, irritation, or pain related to ocular surface disease

For many patients, scleral lenses can improve both vision and comfort by creating a smoother optical surface while protecting the front of the eye with a fluid reservoir.

Advanced Scleral Lens Design Options

At Vision Source – Orland Park, we use many specialized scleral and medically necessary contact lens designs to help patients with complex vision and ocular surface needs. The best lens design depends on the shape of the eye, the condition being treated, prior lens history, comfort needs, and visual goals.

Lens designs we may use include Zenlens, Custom Stable Elite, Maxim 3D, Onefit MED, Synergeyes UltraHealth, BostonSight Scleral Smart360, ScanFitPRO, WAVE custom scleral lenses, Gaudí QS, Gaudí Legend, and other specialty designs.

For many complex cases, we may use advanced digital scleral lens design based on Eaglet ESP 3-D eye surface profiling. Learn more about our digitally designed scleral contact lens process.

Eaglet ESP digital eye-surface profiling helps guide custom scleral lens design for complex corneal and scleral shapes.

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Insurance, Vision Plans & Medically Necessary Scleral Lenses

Many scleral lenses are prescribed for medically necessary reasons, especially for patients with keratoconus, corneal ectasia, post-RK vision distortion, severe dry eye, corneal scarring, or other complex corneal and ocular surface conditions.

Coverage depends on whether your care is managed through a vision plan or major medical insurance. Our team will help review your benefits and explain the expected fees before your scleral lens fitting process begins.

Vision Plans

Some vision plans, such as VSP, EyeMed, or Spectera, may provide a medically necessary contact lens benefit when specific clinical criteria are met. When applicable, our team will help with authorization and billing through your vision plan.

Medical Insurance & Our Two-Part Billing Policy

When scleral lens care is managed through major medical insurance, we use a two-part billing approach. This helps us provide advanced custom scleral lens technology while keeping the billing process as clear as possible.

Part 1: Professional Medical Services

We may bill your medical insurance for the medical evaluation, clinical testing, and medically necessary scleral lens fitting visits.

You are responsible for any copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and any services your medical insurance plan does not cover.

Part 2: Eaglet Imaging, Custom Lens Design & Prosthetic Lens Materials

Eaglet ESP digital eye-surface profiling, advanced scleral lens design, and custom prosthetic scleral lens materials are self-pay services. Payment for these services and materials is required at the time of service.

These advanced imaging and custom lens material fees are not billed directly by our office to medical insurance.

Documentation for Possible Reimbursement

Our team can provide supporting documentation that you may submit to your medical insurance carrier for possible direct reimbursement. Reimbursement is not guaranteed and is always determined by your specific policy.

This approach allows us to focus on your clinical outcome and the precise design of your custom scleral lenses, while helping you understand the financial process before treatment begins.

 

Schedule an appointment with Dr. DiGiorgio and the Vision Source – Orland Park team for a custom scleral contact lens evaluation. We will review your eye shape, vision needs, ocular surface health, and prior contact lens history to determine whether scleral lenses may be appropriate for you.