If you are struggling with allergic conjunctivitis, scleral lenses may offer the relief you need. At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we specialize in providing eye care solutions that protect your eyes from allergens while enhancing comfort and vision. Learn how these innovative lenses can help you enjoy clear, irritation-free days, even during allergy season.

Practical Tips for Scleral Lens Wearers

Scleral lenses offer exceptional comfort and clarity, but a few smart habits can make a big difference in how well they perform day to day. From proper cleaning to managing your environment, these simple practices help you get the most out of every wear, especially during allergy season.

Clean Your Lenses Thoroughly

Use approved cleaning solutions daily to remove any debris, proteins, or allergen buildup that could compromise lens performance. Regular cleaning not only maintains clarity but also extends the life of your lenses.

Utilize Preservative-Free Drops

When dryness persists, preservative-free artificial tears can help maintain the hydration within the tear-film reservoir, ensuring continuous comfort.

Rinse with Sterile Saline

Before inserting your lenses, rinse the inside of your lens with a sterile saline solution. This helps remove any residual allergens and prepares your eyes for the protective benefits of the lenses.

Minimize Outdoor Exposure

On days when pollen counts are high, try to limit your time outside. If you must go outdoors, consider wearing sunglasses under your scleral lenses to further reduce allergen contact.

Improve Indoor Air Quality

Use air purifiers or ensure proper ventilation indoors, especially during peak allergy seasons, to reduce the concentration of airborne irritants.

Traditional Contact Lenses and Allergies

For many people, reusable soft contact lenses, whether monthly or biweekly work well for daily vision correction. But during allergy season, these lenses can become a magnet for pollen, dust, and tear proteins, which tend to accumulate over time. This buildup often leads to irritation, redness, and itchiness, especially for those already sensitive to allergens. Daily disposable lenses offer some relief by giving you a clean, fresh lens each day, which can reduce allergic symptoms, but even they can let allergens slip through, particularly in moderate-to-severe cases.

That’s where scleral lenses come in. Their larger design vaults over the cornea and holds a fluid reservoir, creating a physical and hydrating barrier that helps keep allergens away from the eye’s surface. For those who continue to struggle with irritation despite switching to dailies, scleral lenses can offer lasting relief, improved comfort, and clearer vision even in the thick of allergy season.

Considerations and Potential Drawbacks

Midday Fogging

Over time, debris from a mix of tear-film debris, lipids, mucins, inflammatory cells (e.g., leukocytes) may accumulate in the tear reservoir, leading to intermittent blurring of vision known as midday fogging. This may require additional cleaning or lens adjustments during the day.

Increased Surface Deposits

Allergic reactions can lead to an increase in mucus and protein deposits on the lens surface, which can reduce lens wettability and, ultimately, comfort. Regular maintenance and using the correct cleaning solutions can help mitigate this issue.

Fit-Related Papillary Reactions

In some cases, poor haptic alignment or inadequate fit can result in mechanical irritation to the tarsal conjunctiva, leading to a condition known as papillary conjunctivitis. This underlines the importance of a precise and tailored lens fitting session with our eye doctors.

Solution Sensitivity

Some patients may react to preservatives found in multipurpose solutions or medication drops. Always using preservative-free solutions can help prevent inflammatory responses associated with these chemicals.

Benefits of Scleral Lenses During Allergy Season

Allergy season can wreak havoc on sensitive eyes, but scleral lenses offer a protective edge. Their unique design shields the cornea from allergens while delivering consistent hydration, helping to reduce inflammation, dryness, and blurred vision caused by allergic reactions.

How Scleral Lenses Work: Design, Protection, and All-Day Comfort

Scleral lenses aren’t your average contacts—they’re engineered for comfort, clarity, and protection. Their unique design creates a sealed, hydrated environment over the eye that not only improves vision stability but also shields against allergens and irritation. Especially during allergy season, this thoughtful construction makes a real difference in both performance and day-to-day comfort.

Unique Design and Functionality of Scleral Lenses

Unlike standard soft lenses, scleral lenses boast a distinctive design that sets them apart. Their large, gas-permeable structure vaults over the corneal surface and rests on the sclera, creating minimal tear-exchange between the eye and the external environment. This chamber is filled with a sterile, preservative-free saline solution, which offers continuous hydration and cushioning for your sensitive ocular surface. Here’s the thing: this design not only ensures a comfortable fit but also acts as a robust barrier against allergens that could otherwise trigger inflammation.

Barrier Protection

By covering the eye’s surface, scleral lenses physically block many airborne allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander from making direct contact with the cornea. This protective layer significantly reduces the allergic response that can lead to discomfort and inflammation.

Hydration and Moisture Retention

One of the standout benefits of scleral lenses is the creation of a protective tear-film reservoir. This reservoir is not just a byproduct of the lens design, it plays a crucial role in managing the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. By holding a layer of preservative-free saline solution against the eye, this fluid chamber continuously hydrates the cornea, neutralizes tear-film hyperosmolarity (a contributor to inflammation), and acts as a buffer against allergens.

This hydration layer is especially valuable during allergy season, when the eyes are more vulnerable to dryness and irritation. The steady presence of moisture not only alleviates the discomfort caused by dry eyes but also aids in reducing the overall inflammatory response. In effect, the tear-film reservoir ensures that your eyes remain both comfortable and protected, even when exposed to airborne allergens.

Stable Vision

The lens’s ability to maintain a constant, smooth interface minimizes optical distortions. This means that even when allergens are present in the environment, you experience clearer and more stable vision throughout the day.

Custom Fit and Comfort

Since each scleral lens is individually designed, the fit is precise, promoting both comfort and optimal performance. This tailored approach also helps in reducing mechanical irritation that might occur with a loose or poorly-fitted lens.

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What Our Patients are Saying

“I love this office! The staff is so friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Dr. Lam has helped with my dry eye symptoms and myopia and takes the time to explain things thoroughly. I never feel like she is rushing me out of the office to see the next patient. She is extremely knowledgeable and I feel very well cared for. I highly recommend this office!”

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Elaine N.

“More recently I had an issue with super dry eyes and they provided me multiple solutions and care instructions to heal them quickly. What I like is that it’s not all about just solving the issue, they taught me about long term care and what to change to ensure my eyes get the hydration they need.”

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Maria M.

How Our Eye Doctors Can Help

Choosing the right lens can be a significant step towards comfort during allergy season. Our eye doctors are highly skilled in the fitting and evaluation of scleral lenses, ensuring that each patient receives a solution that is uniquely suited to their needs. They perform comprehensive assessments, including corneal mapping and visual acuity tests, to determine the best approach in creating a barrier that meets both visual and comfort goals.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis or have noticed that your current lenses are aggravating your allergy symptoms, consider consulting with our eye doctors. They can offer advice on whether scleral lenses might be the right choice for you. Whether it’s reducing irritation, stabilizing your vision, or protecting your eyes from airborne allergens, our team is dedicated to finding the best solution for your eye care needs.

Discover Relief with Scleral Lenses Today

At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we understand the challenges posed by allergies and the impact they can have on your eye health. Our eye doctors are dedicated to providing personalized care , ensuring that you find relief with the right lens solution. If you are struggling with allergic conjunctivitis or are curious about how scleral lenses can improve your comfort, reach out to us today. Your path to better eye health starts with a simple consultation!

Why Trust Insight Vision Center Optometry in Costa Mesa, CA, for Scleral Lenses for Allergic Conjunctivitis?

Insight Vision Center Optometry is a leading advanced eye care clinic in Orange County, known for its success in fitting scleral lenses that provide relief and protection for patients with allergic conjunctivitis. With over 600 positive patient reviews and a 4.9-star rating on Google and Yelp, our experienced eye doctors utilize the latest lens technology to create a protective barrier over the eye, minimizing exposure to allergens and environmental irritants. Our patient-focused care ensures each scleral lens fitting is personalized to promote long-term comfort and eye health.

If you’re looking for relief from allergy-related eye irritation, contact Insight Vision Center Optometry in Costa Mesa, CA, to learn how scleral lenses can help.

Call us at (714) 942-1361 to book your appointment, or schedule online.

Insight Vision Center Optometry is a proud member of Vision Source, the premier network of private practice optometrists.

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Dr. Chen and the staff are very friendly and professional and can provide patients with sincere service and advice.

Elise Fu

Insight Vision Center Optometry has truly transformed my eyecare experience over the past year. Under the expert care of Dr. Chen, Dr. Schramm, Dr. Lam, and Dr. Mai, I've received unparalleled attention and personalized service. Their commitment to excellence extends beyond the doctors to the outstanding admin and tech team who ensure a seamless and efficient visit every time.

The level of expertise, professionalism, and genuine care exhibited by the entire staff sets Insight Vision Center Optometry apart. From thorough examinations to comprehensive explanations of my eye health, they have created an atmosphere of trust and confidence. It's not just about eye care; it's about an extraordinary commitment to the well-being of their patients.

I wholeheartedly recommend Insight Vision Center Optometry to everyone seeking top-notch optometric services. It's more than an eye clinic; it's a place where your vision is valued, and your experience is exceptional. This team has undoubtedly set the standard for excellence in eyecare.

Nathaniel Choi

Dr. Mai and the entire personnel are amazing! Extremely polite, kind and professional. In addition, I can now see 20/20!!! Thank you, thank you all

Franchezka 777

Dr. Schramm is stellar. He really cares about his patients. Great staff. Scleral lenses are life changing.

Kevin W

My first eye exam in fifteen years. I am so thankful that I found Insight Vision Center. Dr. Lam and staff made me feel like a welcome guest. My eye exam revealed very minor blurriness and Dr. Lam did not pressure me into purchasing eyewear for a condition not necessitating glasses… yet. Maybe next year? I am getting older. They took my VSP insurance. Yay!

Scott H.

Dr. Lam and staff are amazing. Every phone call or interaction is friendly. You can feel the smiles and joy over whatever mode of communication you are interacting with them. Dr. Lam is very knowledgeable and helps you to better understand everything that is going on with your eyes. She made me aware of potential problems I may have with my eyes and walked me through every step of the process. She helped me understand the various factors that could be causing my vision to be a little impaired and followed up with me as I had to see an ophthalmologist. Great team, great office.

Virgilio S.