Custom Scleral Lenses Designed for Comfort, Clarity and Complex Eyes
Mission Eye Care is the only clinic in Canada with four residency-trained scleral lens optometrists. We create personalized lens designs for keratoconus, post-surgical corneas, ocular surface disease and severe dry eye, even when standard contact lenses have not worked.
Who Are specialty Lenses For?
Scleral lenses are often recommended when traditional soft lenses do not provide comfortable or clear vision. They are designed for eyes that require a more advanced or custom lens design.
People may benefit from scleral lenses if they have:
- Keratoconus or irregular corneal shapes
- Post-surgical corneas, such as transplant or refractive surgery
- Ocular surface disease, chronic dry eye or MGD
- Corneal scarring, injury or distortion
- High or irregular astigmatism
- A need for specialty lens options, including multifocal or colored scleral lenses
If you’ve been told you are not a candidate for standard contacts, scleral lenses may provide another option.
What Are Scleral Contact Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large, rigid lenses that sit on the white part of the eye instead of the cornea. They vault over the corneal surface and hold a layer of preservative-free saline underneath, creating a smooth optical surface that supports tear film stability and long-lasting comfort.
Scleral lenses are entirely custom-made for each eye, including eye shape, prescription and even HD lenses that reduce higher-order aberrations (optical distortion). They are often used for irregular corneas, keratoconus, post-surgical eyes, corneal scarring and ocular surface disease. Their high oxygen permeability helps maintain eye health, and many patients find them comfortable even when regular contact lenses have not worked.
Lens Options We Fit at Mission Eye Care
We carry a range of advanced lens designs to ensure a precise, comfortable fit for complex corneal and dry eye needs.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses are large-diameter, rigid lenses that rest on the white part of the eye while vaulting over the cornea. This creates a fluid reservoir under the lens that helps support hydration, tear film stability and long-lasting comfort. Scleral lenses can be customized for a wide range of eye conditions, including keratoconus, post-transplant corneas and other irregular corneal shapes. They are also available as multifocal scleral lenses, even for very high or irregular astigmatism.
Advanced Design and Mapping Technology
Our clinic uses advanced imaging to create precise scleral lens designs tailored to each eye. We are one of the few clinics in Canada to offer custom 3D printed lenses based on a virtual or physical impression mold of the eye surface.
The technology we use includes:
- 3D scleral mapping for full-surface measurements and custom vault height
- Corneal topography and OCT to assess curvature and limbal clearance
- Higher-order aberration (HOA) measurement to help reduce glare, haloes and visual distortion
- Materials with high oxygen permeability for safe, healthy, long-term wear
This level of customization supports comfort, stable vision and a secure lens fit for everyday use.
Why Choose Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses offer a different wearing experience than regular contacts. The lens vaults over the cornea and sits on the sclera, creating a smooth optical surface and a fluid reservoir that supports ocular hydration and tear film stability.
The Advantages of Scleral Lenses:
- All-day comfort for sensitive or dry eyes
- Consistent vision that does not shift with blinking
- High oxygen permeability for healthy long wear
- Custom vault, diameter and design tailored to each eye
- Available in multifocal and aberration correcting scleral options
Why Choose Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses offer a different wearing experience than regular contacts. The lens vaults over the cornea and sits on the sclera, creating a smooth optical surface and a fluid reservoir that supports ocular hydration and tear film stability.
The Advantages of Scleral Lenses:
- All-day comfort for sensitive or dry eyes
- Consistent vision that does not shift with blinking
- High oxygen permeability for healthy long wear
- Custom vault, diameter and design tailored to each eye
- Available in multifocal and aberration correcting scleral options
Mapping
Analysis
Custom Scleral
Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia Lenses
Keratoconus and corneal ectasia can make vision difficult to correct with standard soft lenses. Specialty scleral and hybrid lenses vault over the cornea to create a smooth optical surface, supporting clearer, more stable vision. Using corneal topography and mapping, we design lenses that match the unique shape and height of the eye for comfortable wear.
Why this option is often considered:
- Helps create a smooth surface for consistent vision
- Comfortable when soft lenses are difficult to tolerate
- Customized for post-surgical eyes or irregular corneas
- Supports hydration with a fluid reservoir beneath the lens
EyePrint Prosthetic Scleral Lenses
We are one of the few clinics in Canada certified to fit EyePrintPRO prosthetic scleral lenses. These lenses are made from an impression or scan of the eye, allowing the design to follow the exact surface contour for advanced irregular corneal shapes or post-surgical eyes where standard scleral lenses may be challenging to fit. The final lens is 3D manufactured using high oxygen-permeable materials, with an optional Hydra-PEG coating to support surface moisture and comfort.
Why this option is often considered:
- Fully customized from an impression or scan
- Helpful for advanced irregularity or complex post-surgical corneas
- Designed to improve stability when other lenses rotate or decenter
- High oxygen permeability for long-term corneal health
- Hydra-PEG coating to enhance wettability and comfort
BostonSight Scleral Lenses
We were the first clinic in Canada to offer BostonSight Scleral lenses, an evidence-based scleral lens system developed using data from thousands of wearers. This option provides a high level of customization at a more accessible cost compared to fully moulded prosthetic lenses. BostonSight lenses vault the cornea and create a fluid reservoir to support hydration and visual stability for conditions such as keratoconus, dry eye disease and other irregular corneal shapes.
Why this option is often considered:
- Data-driven design with condition-based fitting profiles
- Customizable while often more affordable than molded designs
- Helps support hydration through a fluid reservoir beneath the lens
- Suitable for dry eye, keratoconus and irregular corneas
- Designed for comfort and consistent daily wear
Hybrid Contact Lenses
Hybrid lenses combine a rigid gas-permeable center with a soft lens skirt, offering sharp optical clarity with a more familiar soft-lens feel. Mission Eye Care is one of the few clinics in Alberta to fit the full SynergEyes™ hybrid lens suite, making this a strong option for patients who like the vision of RGP lenses but prefer added comfort and flexibility.
Why this option is often considered:
- Clear RGP-style vision with a softer, more comfortable edge
- Suitable for keratoconus, post-transplant corneas and ectasia
- High oxygen transmission materials for healthy wear
- Available in multifocal designs
Soft and Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
We also fit specialty soft and custom rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses including designs such as Rose-K, piggyback systems and other advanced options. RGP lenses can provide crisp optics and are often a cost-effective choice, though they may be less stable or comfortable for more advanced corneal irregularity. For mild to moderate cases, custom soft lenses such as Kerasoft™ offer a more flexible and comfortable alternative for irregular corneas or post-transplant eyes.
Why this option is often considered:
- Cost-effective option for certain corneal conditions
- Crisp optics with rigid gas-permeable lens designs
- Piggyback and Rose-K options available
- Custom soft lenses for comfort in those with milder irregularity
Inserting and Removing Specialty Contact Lenses
Speciality lenses are simple to care for once you have learned the technique. Insertion and removal are different from standard contacts, but we show you how to do it during your visit and make sure you feel confident before you leave.
Getting Comfortable With Your Lenses
- During your fitting, we guide you step by step through:
- Inserting and removing lenses safely
- Filling lenses with preservative-free saline before wear
- Cleaning and storing your lenses at the end of the day
- Tips for comfort and handling at home
We have provided an instructional video that highlights the key points covered during in-office training.
Resources for Scleral Lenses
LensBase for Easier Insertion
LensBase is a simple stand that helps hold your scleral lens steady during insertion, making the process cleaner and more controlled. It features a centred visual target and collects overflow solution, reducing mess on the countertop.
Why LensBase™ is often recommended:
- Stabilizes the lens for easier insertion
- Helps with centration using a visual target
- Reduces saline spills and mess
- Compact and travel-friendly
Available now at Mission Eye Care in Calgary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Mission Eye Care provide multifocal scleral lenses?
Yes. We fit multifocal and progressive scleral lens designs for patients who need both distance and near vision correction. These lenses can be customized for irregular corneas, dry eye conditions, and higher prescriptions.
Does Mission Eye Care evaluate scleral lens vault height?
Yes. Vault height is measured during the fitting process using corneal topography, OCT imaging and 3D scleral mapping. This helps ensure that the lens clears the cornea appropriately and maintains a healthy fluid reservoir beneath the lens.
Are Mission Eye Care scleral lenses good for keratoconus?
Scleral lenses are often recommended for keratoconus because they vault the cornea and create a smooth optical surface. We offer several scleral lens designs to support keratoconus and other forms of corneal irregularity, including post-surgical changes and ectasia.
Can Mission Eye Care customize limbal clearance zones?
Yes. We can adjust limbal clearance and edge design as part of the custom fitting process. This helps optimize comfort, reduce edge awareness and improve long-term lens stability.
Does Mission Eye Care measure corneal irregularities precisely?
Yes. We use advanced diagnostic imaging, including 3D scleral mapping, corneal topography and OCT to measure corneal elevation, shape and irregularity. This allows us to design lenses tailored to each eye’s unique contour.
Book a Custom Lens Consultation
If you want to find out which specialty lens option is right for your eyes, we are happy to help. You may book a consultation directly or contact us with any questions.
Your doctor will review your visual needs, eye health, and lifestyle to recommend the lens design that best matches your comfort and clarity. If you already have a fitting scheduled, please complete our consent form before your appointment.