Navigating the World of Scleral Lenses: How to Pick the Best Filling Solution
If you’re exploring the world of scleral lenses, either as a new or seasoned user, understanding the role of filling solutions in your daily lens routine is crucial. Scleral lenses, unlike traditional contact lenses, require a special filling solution to be placed in the bowl of the lens before insertion. This solution acts as a cushion between your eye and the lens, ensuring a comfortable fit and maintaining eye health.
The Importance of Filling Solutions in Scleral Lens Wear
Filling solutions are not just a comfort enhancer but a necessity for scleral lens users. When you place a scleral lens on your eye, the solution in the lens bowl creates a thin layer of liquid that helps correct your vision by smoothing out irregularities on the surface of your eye. This makes scleral lenses a great option for those with keratoconus or severe dry eyes. The right filling solution can mean the difference between a day of clear, comfortable vision and one filled with irritation and discomfort.
Why Choose Preservative-Free Solutions
When it comes to filling solutions for scleral lenses, using a preservative-free option is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity. The unique design of scleral lenses, covering a larger portion of the eye and creating a sealed area over the cornea, means that any substance in the lens bowl is held in close contact with the eye for extended periods. Preservatives found in some eye care products can be harmful in this context, potentially causing irritation, discomfort, or even damage to the eye’s surface.
Preservative-free solutions are designed to mimic natural tears, providing a safe and comfortable environment for your eyes without the risk of irritation. This makes them an essential choice for anyone using scleral lenses.
FDA-Approved Solutions: Safety and Effectiveness
When it comes to picking a filling solution, there are several reliable FDA-approved products. These solutions have been tested and approved specifically for use with scleral lenses, ensuring they meet high safety and effectiveness standards.
- Lacripure (Menicon): This unit-dose, non-preserved, 0.9% NaCl (normal saline) solution is designed for rinsing and filling scleral lenses prior to insertion. Packaged in a 5ml unit-dose vial, Lacripure is a sterile, non-preserved saline providing a safer alternative to tap water rinsing, ensuring exceptional safety and convenience.
- ScleralFil (Bausch + Lomb): ScleralFil is a preservative-free saline solution, sterile and buffered, containing boric acid, sodium borate, and sodium chloride in purified water. It’s designed specifically as an insertion and rinsing solution for scleral lenses, free from preservatives or mercury-containing ingredients like chlorhexidine and thimerosal, which some people are sensitive to. Each box contains 30 single-use, 10-mL vials.
- Nutrifill (Contamac): Nutrifill is a preservative-free lens insertion solution specifically designed for scleral lens wearers, featuring a pH (7.4) and osmolality (300) that simulate the natural tear. It contains 5 essential electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate) to mimic the natural tear film and is designed to minimize potential stress on the cornea by providing a healthier ocular environment. Available in 35 single-use 10ml ampules, Nutrifill is available for direct purchase by patients or in wholesale for practitioners.
Off-Label Options: Addipak and Purilens Plus
There are also widely accepted off-label options such as Addipak 0.9% NaCl and Purilens Plus. While not specifically FDA-approved for scleral use, these solutions are considered safe and effective by many eye care professionals.
Proper Care and Maintenance
Remember, the maintenance of your filling solution is as important as your choice. For saline vials, discard them after each use to maintain hygiene. For bottle solutions, follow the disposal timeline indicated on the bottle to ensure the solution remains safe to use.
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Your Vision, Our Commitment
At Compton Eye Associates, we’re committed to providing you with the best eye care solutions tailored to your needs. Understanding filling solutions is just the first step. We’re here to guide you through every aspect of scleral lens care, ensuring you achieve the best vision and comfort.
Interested in learning more about scleral lenses and the right filling solution for you? Call us at 800-936-0036 or schedule an appointment with Compton Eye Associates. Let us be your partners in clear and comfortable vision!