According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), about 14.5 percent of all kids under age 17 wear contact lenses. While it’s most common to prescribe daily disposable contacts for kids, they’re not suitable for all eye and vision conditions.
At our eye care centres in North Edmonton, Downtown Edmonton and Sherwood Park, we regularly perform pediatric eye exams to fit kids with contact lenses, including scleral lenses. Many of our young patients who couldn’t achieve crisp, comfortable vision with regular contacts have been thrilled with their scleral lenses!
What are scleral lenses?
Custom-fit scleral lenses vault over the cornea, coming to rest on the whites of the eye (sclera), and forming a new optical surface. Sclerals also create a reservoir of saline between the contact and the eye surface, perfect for soothing sore eyes.
When do kids need scleral lenses?
Very young children, as small as toddlers, who have a serious ocular surface disease are recommended to wear full scleral lenses because they provide protection over as much of the eye as possible.
When kids have a normal cornea and high refractive errors, or have a corneal condition such as keratoconus, mini-scleral lenses may be worn. These specialty pediatric lenses range from 15 to 18 mm in diameter.
Sclerals can also be helpful for kids with disorders such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, congenital corneal anesthesia syndromes and corneal scarring after trauma.
What are the benefits of scleral lenses for kids?
Due to their oversized shape, sclerals rest on the eye with more stability than conventional contacts, so they’re less likely to be dislodged. The stability also promotes higher comfort, especially for sensitive eyes. Since they have high oxygen permeability, scleral lenses are healthy for the eyes too.
To find out if your child is a candidate for scleral lenses, book a pediatric eye exam with our eye doctor in North Edmonton, Downtown Edmonton or Sherwood Park.
At Village Eye Centre, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 587-410-5920 or book an appointment online to see one of our North Edmonton eye doctors.
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