Sclera contact lenses and regular contact lenses, what's the difference?

Are you one of the users of contact lenses to correct vision problems? Did you know that there are two types of contact lenses available? Come on, get to know the following two types of contact lenses.

The origin of contact lenses

The idea of contact lenses all started with Leonardo da Vinci. In 1508, he discovered that by immersing part of the face in a transparent bowl filled with water, it can actually change vision sharply. Starting from this finding, in 1636, a scientist from France named Rene Descartes made a tube filled with liquid and attached the tube to the surface of the eye.

The existence of direct contact with the surface of the eye is the reason they are named contact lenses. However, because they were impractical, contact lenses didn't really develop until the 1800s, when technology made contact lenses more practical.

Since then, contact lenses have grown. Now there are two types of contact lenses, namely the cornea and sclera. Know the differences below.

Corneal contact lenses

Corneal contact lenses are the most common type of contact lens today. This contact lens only covers part of the surface of the eye, to be precise in the middle of the eye, namely the cornea.

Therefore, these contact lenses are also often referred to soft lens cornea. Corneal contact lenses have a small diameter, averaging 13 mm to 15 mm. The entire surface of the lens will be in contact with the surface of the cornea of the eye.

Sclera contact lenses

Sclera contact lenses are actually not new, they are the first type of contact lenses made. This lens was abandoned because of its size that is too large so that the surface of the eye does not get enough oxygen. However, now with the development of technology, sclera contact lenses are gaining in popularity again.

Contact lenses are also called sclera soft lens cover almost the entire surface of the eye to the white part (sclera), so 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.

Also, only a portion of the lens is in contact with the surface of the eye. Only the part of the sclera in the eye is in contact with soft lens. There is a space between the lens and the cornea which is filled with fluid.

Sclera contact lenses turned out to be more comfortable

New types of sclera contact lenses have advantages over corneal contact lenses. The larger diameter makes the sclera contact lenses more stable, not easily shifted in position when the eye blinks. In addition, the surface of the sclera contact lens does not come into contact with the cornea, which reduces irritation and discomfort in the eye and does not block the flow of tears that can lead to dry eye syndrome.

Please note, 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 soft lens much more comfortable than regular contact lenses.

Are sclera contact lenses right for you?

In general, anyone who wants to use corneal type contact lenses can use sclera type contact lenses. However, the type of sclera contact lens will be very useful for those of you who have special conditions, for example: