![]() 16 Scleral lenses not only manage a condition, the technology treats the entire person, and even entire families. Scleral lens practitioners carefully and systematically successfully manage patients who have challenging eyes, partially or completely restoring their vision, and often their functionality. 15 Additionally, the number of publications in the peer reviewed literature on this topic is rapidly increasing. ![]() 11,12 The expanding scleral lens modality has been variously termed “the rigid lens renaissance: a surge in sclerals”, 13 “scleral lenses are blooming” 14 and “scleral GP lenses have come of age”. 11,12 The majority of these are corneal lenses (75%), followed by scleral (13%), orthokeratology (8%), and hybrid lenses (5%). Currently, 10% of all contact lenses fit globally are comprised of GP materials. 7,8 There are numerous optical and therapeutic indications that may result in a patient being prescribed scleral lenses, 9,10 the major ones being visual rehabilitation in irregular corneas, therapeutic treatment of ocular surface disease and correction of refractive error in normal or healthy eyes. In recent years, improvements in manufacturing techniques and ocular imaging have led to a resurgence in scleral lens prescribing. Also, each lens was handcrafted and impossible to replicate if broken or lost. The shortcomings of early designs included very poor oxygen transmissibility, which led to lens-induced corneal edema, later known as Fick’s phenomenon or Sattler’s veil, corneal hypoxia, and ultimately discontinuation of lens wear. 2 Scleral lenses have evolved from glass and PMMA to gas permeable (GP) materials, 3-6 reducing the adverse physiological effects induced by the original scleral lens materials. ![]() Scleral lenses were first conceptualized by Leonardo DaVinci in the early 16th century, 1 and were the earliest type of contact lenses manufactured. ![]() Melissa Barnett and Lynette Johns authored and edited the book Contemporary Scleral Lenses: Theory and Application with the unique perspectives and contributions of international experts. Melissa Barnett is a principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Eye Center and is Past President of The Scleral Lens Education Society. ![]()
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