For numerous patients, standard eyeglasses or soft contact lenses just don’t suffice. Conditions such as keratoconus, intense dry eye, or corneal damage can hinder vision, leaving individuals feeling cornered between subpar sight and intrusive surgical choices. Thankfully, contemporary eye care introduces another solution: scleral lenses – specialized medical devices that offer comfort, protection, and clear vision.

What Are Scleral Lenses and Who Needs Them?

Unlike typical contact lenses, scleral lenses are bigger and sit on the sclera, which is the white part of the eye, arching over the cornea without making contact. This innovative design forms a liquid cushion between the lens and the cornea, shielding sensitive tissues and delivering continuous, sharp vision.

These lenses are particularly effective for people with:

• Keratoconus or other corneal irregularities

• Severe dry eye disease, including Sjögren’s syndrome

• Post-corneal transplant complications

• Corneal trauma or scarring

• Neurological or functional eyelid conditions such as ptosis

Beyond Standard Fittings: EyePrintPRO

For various patients, even these advanced lenses might need additional personalization. This is where EyePrintPRO steps in. Rather than modifying a standard lens, this technology utilizes a 3D impression to create a tailored “fingerprint” of the eye’s surface. The outcome is a lens crafted with micron-level accuracy – often the sole alternative for patients with severely irregular corneas or intricate eye conditions.

The Quality of Life Impact

Patients fitted with scleral lenses often report dramatic improvements: the ability to read comfortably again, return to professional activities, or even drive safely at night. A 2022 study published in Eye & Contact Lens reported that over 80% of keratoconus patients using scleral lenses experienced “significant quality-of-life improvement,” including reduced discomfort and fewer visual distortions.

In fact, epidemiological studies show keratoconus affects about 1 in 2000 people worldwide, while chronic dry eye symptoms are reported in nearly 10% of adults over 50 – highlighting the broad need for solutions that go beyond glasses or basic contact lenses.

Comparing Options: Scleral vs. Standard Lenses

While soft lenses and rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses remain common, they often fail in advanced cases. Standard lenses can move excessively on an irregular cornea, causing blurred vision or discomfort. Scleral lenses, on the other hand, create a stable optical surface, improving vision where other methods fall short.

Why the Middle East Needs Access to Advanced Solutions

In the Middle East, advanced corneal care is often limited, leaving many patients without effective solutions for complex eye conditions. M’Eye Clinic in Israel specializes in cutting-edge scleral lenses, opening the doors for patients from across the region – including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Turkey. By offering technologies such as EyePrintPRO and personalized fittings, M’Eye Clinic provides international patients with life-changing access to treatments that can mean the difference between dependency and independence.

Frequently Asked Questions