Can I Use Eye Drops With Scleral Lenses?

One of the most common questions scleral lens wearers in Las Vegas ask is whether it is safe to use eye drops while wearing their lenses. The short answer is that some eye drops are safe to use with scleral lenses, but many are not. Understanding the difference can help you avoid irritation, lens damage, and potential harm to your eyes.

Are Preservative-Free Eye Drops Safe With Scleral Lenses?

In general, preservative-free artificial tears are considered safe to use while wearing scleral contact lenses. Because these drops do not contain chemical preservatives, they are less likely to interact with the lens material or irritate the ocular surface. Your eye doctor may recommend a specific preservative-free brand based on your tear film quality and the type of scleral lens you wear.

Some eye drops are also labeled as safe for use with contact lenses. However, not all products marketed this way are appropriate for scleral lenses specifically. Always check with your eye doctor before using any new eye drop product with your lenses.

Why Are Preserved Eye Drops a Problem for Contact Lens Wearers?

Most over-the-counter eye drops contain preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) that keep the product sterile in the bottle. Under normal circumstances, when you apply these drops to an eye without a contact lens, your natural blinking and tear production flush the preservatives off the eye surface relatively quickly.

When you wear contact lenses, including scleral lenses, the situation changes. Preservatives can bind to the lens material and remain trapped against the eye for hours. With scleral lenses, this concern is particularly important because the lens creates a fluid reservoir between the lens and the cornea. If preserved drops enter this reservoir, the preservatives can remain in prolonged contact with the corneal surface, potentially causing irritation, toxicity, or damage to the corneal epithelium over time.

What About the Filling Solution for Scleral Lenses?

The solution you use to fill your scleral lens before insertion is equally important. Always use a preservative-free, sterile saline solution to fill the bowl of the lens. Never use tap water, multipurpose contact lens solution, or preserved saline to fill your scleral lenses. Using the wrong filling solution can lead to discomfort, cloudy vision, or in serious cases, corneal infection.

If your doctor has prescribed medicated eye drops, ask specifically whether they should be instilled before lens insertion, after lens removal, or used to fill the lens bowl. Some practitioners use the scleral lens reservoir as a drug delivery method for certain medications, but this should only be done under direct medical guidance.

Practical Tips for Eye Drop Use With Scleral Lenses

• Use only preservative-free artificial tears while wearing your scleral lenses unless your doctor has specifically approved another product.
• Apply any preserved eye drops or prescription medications only after removing your lenses, unless otherwise directed by your eye doctor.
• Keep in mind that the majority of eye drops on pharmacy shelves are not designed for use with contact lenses. When in doubt, leave the drops out until you can ask your doctor.
• Store your preservative-free drops properly and discard single-use vials after opening, as they do not contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth once opened.

When Should You Contact Your Eye Doctor?

If you accidentally use a preserved eye drop with your scleral lenses and experience stinging, burning, redness, or blurred vision, remove your lenses and rinse your eyes with preservative-free saline. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your eye doctor right away. Sudden eye pain, significant vision changes, or signs of infection such as discharge always warrant prompt evaluation.

At Insight Vision Optometry, Las Vegas, our specialty contact lens team has extensive experience fitting and managing scleral lenses for patients with complex visual needs. Dr. Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Dr. Nathan Schramm, OD, FSLS, FBCLA, and Dr. Thanh Mai, OD, FSLS, can provide personalized recommendations for the best eye drops and care products for your scleral lenses. Call us at 702-747-4070 or visit www.insightvisionlv.com to schedule an appointment.