Contact lenses can be custom made for patients who have complex eye shapes due to diseases (e.g. keratoconus), surgeries (e.g. corneal transplants, LASIK, RK) or injuries. Vision problems caused by an irregularly shaped cornea will typically experience sharper vision with gas permeable contact lenses, whether small (standard) or large (scleral).

Referring doctors can fax this form to refer patients for contact lens services.

Call our Boulder office to schedule a specialty contact lens evaluation with Dr. Fosse (Monday/Tuesday/Fridays).

Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are large rigid-surface contact lenses that rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), and encase the cornea in a saline solution. These medical devices are custom designed and manufactured for each individual patient.

When prescribed by a licensed and skilled eye care practitioner, they can provide a great combination of GP optics with stable, comfortable lens wear. These lenses are best for patients with highly irregular corneas, or those that have failed other options due to discomfort.

 

Scleral Lens Types

  • Large scleral lenses rest on the sclera, and are over 6 mm wider than the iris.
  • Mini-scleral lenses rest on the sclera, and are up to 6 mm wider than the iris.
  • Corneo-scleral lenses rest partially on the cornea and partially on the sclera.

 

Gas Permeable (GP) Lenses

These small diameter lenses are made of a gas-permeable material and rest on the clear part of the eye (the cornea). They provide excellent eye health through great tear exchange and oxygen permeability. GP lenses are easy to apply, remove, and care for. In some cases, your doctor may fit a GP lens on top of a soft lens. This is called “piggybacking” and can improve the comfort and fit on more highly irregular corneas.

Hybrid Lenses

A central GP lens that is bonded to a comfortable soft lens “skirt”. Hybrid lenses may be easier to adapt to compared to GP lenses due to better initial comfort. They are replaced more frequently than a GP or scleral lens (every 4-6 months). Hybrid lenses cannot be customized to the same degree as a scleral lens, so they may not be suitable for severe or post-surgical corneal conditions.

 

soft, scleral, and gas permeable contact lenses

Patient Feedback

Dr. Kaitlin Fosse is an outstanding doctor. I have Keratoconus which leads to a very complicated process to adjust and fit scleral lenses so that I can see clearly. While I have seen many eye doctors over the past 15 years, in and around the Boulder area, none have had the high level of expertise, cutting edge knowledge about how to measure the curvature of my cornea, and patience as Dr. Fosse. Her hard work led to huge improvements in both the comfort and vision I now enjoy with my new scleral lenses. She even found a way for me to have a pair of glasses that work so I can function well when not wearing my high-tech lenses. I am enormously grateful for Dr. Fosse and everyone at The Colorado Eye Gallery Boulder Optometrists. They were all so kind and helpful with every step of the process. Huge gratitude and a glowing review for this office. Thank you!” – C

Resources for SCLERAL Lens Wearers

How to Insert, Remove, and Care for Scleral Lenses

 

Supplies & Tools

Resources for GP and HYBRID Lens Wearers