Contents:
- Medical Video: Scleral Contact Lenses-Mayo Clinic
- The origin of contact lenses
- Corneal contact lenses
- Sclera contact lenses
- Sclera contact lenses are more comfortable
- Are sclera contact lenses right for you?
Medical Video: Scleral Contact Lenses-Mayo Clinic
Are you one of the contact lens users to improve vision problems? Did you know that there are two types of contact lenses available? Come on, recognize the following two types of contact lenses.
The origin of contact lenses
The idea of contact lenses all began with Leonardo da Vinci. In 1508, he discovered that by dipping part of his face into a transparent bowl filled with water, it turned out to change vision sharply. Starting from that finding, in 1636, a French scientist named Rene Descartes made a tube filled with liquid and pressed the tube right on the surface of the eye.
The existence of direct contact with the surface of the eye is the reason given the name of the contact lens. However, because the device was not practical, contact lenses did not really develop until the 1800s, where technology made contact lenses more practical.
Since then, contact lenses have grown until now there are two types of contact lenses, namely the type of cornea and sclera. Find out the difference below.
Corneal contact lenses
Corneal contact lenses are the most common type of contact lens today. These contact lenses only cover a portion of the eye's surface, precisely at the center of the eye, the cornea.
Therefore, contact lenses are also often called soft lens cornea. Corneal contact lenses have a small diameter, averaging 13 mm to 15 mm. The entire surface of the lens will come into contact with the surface of the cornea of the eye.
Sclera contact lenses
Sclera contact lenses are actually nothing new, this is actually the first type of contact lens made. This lens was abandoned because its size is too large so that the surface of the eye does not get enough oxygen. However, now along with the development of technology, sclera contact lenses are becoming popular again.
Contact lenses are also called sclera contact lenses covering almost the entire surface of the eye to the part that is white (sclera), so that it is referred to as scleral lens. Sclera contact lenses have a larger diameter than corneal contact lenses, ranging from 14.5 mm to a maximum of 24 mm.
In addition, only a portion of the lens is in contact with the surface of the eye. Only the scleral parts that come into contact with soft lens. There is space between the lens and the cornea filled with liquid.
Sclera contact lenses are more comfortable
New type of sclera contact lenses have advantages over corneal contact lenses. A larger diameter makes the sclera contact lens more stable, not easily displaced when the eyes blink. In addition, the surface of the sclera contact lens does not come into contact with the cornea so that it reduces irritation and discomfort in the eye and does not clog the discharge of tears which can cause dry eye syndrome.
Keep in mind, the cornea is the most sensitive part of the eye, while the white part of the eye (sclera) is not so sensitive. This is the reason sclera contact lenses much more comfortable than ordinary contact lenses.
Are sclera contact lenses right for you?
In general, all people who want to use corneal contact lenses can use sclera type contact lenses. However, the type of sclera contact lenses will be very useful for those of you who have special conditions, for example:
- Uneven corneal surface (keratoconus)
- Work as an athlete or sportsman
- Has dry eye syndrome
