Scleral Contact Lens Insertion, Removal, Troubleshooting and Lens Care

Insertion and removal of a scleral contact lens. Additional troubleshooting tips and lens care information is included.

[SavvyScribblin]

Well, I can finally say I've gotten the hang of my lenses! To anyone who is new to them and having a hard time, don't give up! I have INCREDIBLY sensitive eyes- I can't even stand getting water in my eyes. It took me well over a month of trying every day (sometimes trying/failing/trying again for hours a day) to get to the point where I can put the lenses in and remove them easily. I still have trouble some days, but I promise with lots of patience it DOES get easier.

For me, the difference they make in my vision is worth all the effort. Without them the world is a blur... with them, I can see better than I have in 3 years. I can even drive again!

Here are my tips from my few months of experience...

When putting them in, it's easier for me to move slowly instead of quickly. It's hard to control your blink reflex but once you can manage that, a steady, slow hand can help to keep from spilling solution and getting bubbles. I use the larger plunger tool featured in this video, and I cut the very bottom tip off. Looking at the hole in the middle of the plunger helps me to keep my eye straight and focused.

Also, I use allaway eyedrops almost every day, at least ten minutes before putting them in. This helps cut down on the amount of 'gunk' my eyes produce and therefore cuts down on fogging throughout the day.

When taking them out, I always put three to four drops of saline in my eye (with the contact still there) and keep my head back to let the saline sit for a few seconds. Then I Dry the area around my eye, put a drop of saline on the plunger, hold top and bottom lids wide open, and stick the plunger on the edge of the lens. Pushing in slightly and then pulling out usually makes it pop right off. Be sure to keep holding your lids firmly in place until the lens is away from your eye. Accidentally blinking and hitting the lens can hurt, and can also send the lens flying off somewhere. Putting saline in my eye first has made ALL The difference with removing them!

Good luck... the lenses have changed my life. I know they're difficult but they are worth the trouble

[kehindeoyegunle]

This is a superb tutorial.
Clear introduction.
Detailed concise instructions.
Decent lighting.
And it's correctly put together.
Thank You.

[RikkeDootjes]

As President of the MSD Corp. (Manufacturer of Specialized Scleral Lenses), I will recommend this great instructional film clip to all our customers and to all those involved with scleral lenses. I think this is the best instructional film I have seen.

[yung-jefe]

man oh man I just got mine today and was only able to put the contacts in twice with the bubble in it and it took me and my doctor like thirty minutes even when we got it in there was a bubble in there, but reading these comments really means you have to work at this. tbh I'm still grateful that I have an answer to my vision problems so I'll just keep working at it.God Bless🙏🙏

[jethompson]

Took me a 2nd visit to the doc's office, then 45 min each eye.  A couple weeks later it takes me less than 5 minutes to get both in....and amazing!!!  I almost forget they are in.  I love them!

[stephenantwi]

Thank you my trials at the hospital yesterday was an absolute success

[kaydriver]

I had RK. New scleral lenses easy to take out impossible to insert. I have had them for two months now and got them in only twice successfully. I am going to try this technique for insertion but I don't have a lot of hope. It is a great video if it works. Vision correction is amazing once I can learn how to get them in.

[blurryfaseswayez]

My biggest tip is to warm up the scleral lenses solution….but not too hot just slightly above room temperature….Also another tip is to use the scleral lens inserter with the hole at the bottom so you can focus your eye on the light passing through it. And if you still can’t get it at that point you can get a thin (copper wire) Christmas light to stick under the bottom of the inserter so you can see the light better ….I’m still new to sclerals but these tips allowed me to be able to take my lenses home finally…the doctors wouldn’t let me leave without being able to insert and take them out

[brianchrisrogers]

Just wanna say, much love to all of you guys, I just got my Scleral lenses and I really like them ~ maybe even love them, but it was a hell of a ride learning how to insert but mainly take them out. But man are they comfortable!

[kylehughes]

Great Video, has been very helpful for our patients and helping our tech's better teach our patients insertion and removal of scleral lenses.  

[ayush_stha]

If you are having (or not) problem with RGPs, then Scleral Lenses is the perfect thing out there.
So comfortable.

[dmg]

Something I think is important that wasn't mentioned was taking lens off plunger. You have to carefully SLIDE it off to break the suction. Otherwise you may break the lens.
Additionally, when I place lenses in case, I like to have liquid on top of the lens also, not just leave it sitting on top of liquid. In fact, if I'm going to be carrying lenses in my purse, I fill case all the way so entire lens will stay moist regardless of case position.
These might not be necessary, but they are helpful to me.

[Dismal]

For those of you having problems, here's the method that finally worked for me after nearly 2 hours of experimenting.


For the left eye:


1. Get REALLY close to the mirror(within inches).
2. Pull the skin on your eyelid as far up as possible with the side of your left index finger. Pull the upper eyelid hard enough so that it creates a large crevasse between the skin and your eyeball. There should be a healthy amount of space there.
3. Simultaneously pull your lower eyelid down with your left thumb
4. Grab the bottom half of your contact lens with your right hand's index finger, middle finger, and thumb, and very slightly fold it so that you can maintain a good grip.
5. Looking straight, put the upper portion of the contact lens as close to the upper white portion eyeball as possible without making contact.
6. Look as far right as possible. Placing the contact on your cornea/pupil is far more uncomfortable than placing it on the whites. It's virtually impossible to not blink if you place it in the center, at least for me, so I look to the right as much as possible to ensure it's placed on the white part of my eye
7. Touch the upper white of your eye with the contact, it should feel cold. Keep looking right.
8. Focus as hard as possible on not blinking or making your eye twitch. Hold the skin taut.
9. Slide the contact as far up into your upper eyelid as possible. You should feel the coldness over the top half of your eye.
10. Slide it further into the top of your eye.
11. Slide it further, you probably haven't slid it in far enough.
12. Let go of the top eyelid, but keep the bottom eyelid pulled down. If the contact doesn't fall out here, you're pretty much home free. I fucked up a lot here because I didn't do enough of steps 9-11, which made the contact fall out.
13. Look straight ahead, and pull your bottom eyelid down further to ensure it's on your eye. Guide it with your free hand.

Do the same thing for the right eye, but with the opposite hands.

Takes a lot of patience, but I was able to learn to do it in a day after having zero experience with contact lenses, let alone *sclera* contacts. Just make sure you take breaks if you get frustrated, and keep your lenses moist by dipping them in solution after every few tries.

I'm no expert on this, this is just what worked for me, but feel free to ask me anything if you have questions.

[sej]

Very helpful demonstration of how to use, etc. is great.

[cmcgsr]

I have a 2 plungers, big one to insert and small to remove.

[kavitabalde]

Hello scleral lens education society
Thank you amazing informative video

I noticed you have instructed that to disinfect the lens after removing from eyes that made me think is it not necessary (or are we not supposed to)to disinfect contact lens before inserting like soft contact lenses?

Thank you

[JalalUK]

Thanks u for the producer of this video. I have kerataconus and have corneal graft on both my eyes. I was recently issued with these lens so I would be using this video for some guidance

[xxshyrosexx]

I forgot my plugger at work and how to find a way to take out my lens without it
it took me forever to find this video
I hate to say but this video was more helpful then my doctor instructions for them
ty for this video! :)

[loveablemarz]

yay! thanks to this video i was able to take my contacts out after trying for over an hour. 

[xxshyrosexx]

I forgot my plugger at work and how to find a way to take out my lens without it
it took me forever to find this video
I hate to say but this video was more helpful then my doctor instructions for them
ty for this video! *˙︶˙*)ﾉ