Scleral CL questions

[juno]

Hey, we may have a scleral CL patient coming in, and my doctor has in their 30 years of practice never fit one before. So a few questions about it, both from their perspective, and from mine:

Are they more like fitting RGPs, or effectively just larger diameter soft lenses?
Any specific measurements we should keep in mind that we would need?
How long should the lenses be worn for before replacement? Week/Month/Year?
How are scleral fits/cls handled via VSP? Like elective, or medically necessary?
What kind of is the general lead-time between ordering sclerals and delivery to office? Should they be warranted like RGPs?

Any other general info about them is great. No one in our office has dealt with them before, so we have no institutional knowledge to call upon

[Kwill212]

Hey, we may have a scleral CL patient coming in, and my doctor has in their 30 years of practice never fit one before. So a few questions about it, both from their perspective, and from mine:

Are they more like fitting RGPs, or effectively just larger diameter soft lenses?
Any specific measurements we should keep in mind that we would need?
How long should the lenses be worn for before replacement? Week/Month/Year?
How are scleral fits/cls handled via VSP? Like elective, or medically necessary?
What kind of is the general lead-time between ordering sclerals and delivery to office? Should they be warranted like RGPs?

Any other general info about them is great. No one in our office has dealt with them before, so we have no institutional knowledge to call upon

Call them back and cancel the appointment, or find them a scleral lens fitter in your area for a referral. Unbelievable.

[rbaker]

Call them back and cancel the appointment, or find them a scleral lens fitter in your area for a referral. Unbelievable.

It certainly is unbelievable but that seem to be the state of eyecare today.

[IIxIPariahIxII]

Hey, we may have a scleral CL patient coming in, and my doctor has in their 30 years of practice never fit one before. So a few questions about it, both from their perspective, and from mine:

Are they more like fitting RGPs, or effectively just larger diameter soft lenses?
Any specific measurements we should keep in mind that we would need?
How long should the lenses be worn for before replacement? Week/Month/Year?
How are scleral fits/cls handled via VSP? Like elective, or medically necessary?
What kind of is the general lead-time between ordering sclerals and delivery to office? Should they be warranted like RGPs?

Any other general info about them is great. No one in our office has dealt with them before, so we have no institutional knowledge to call upon

If your office has never fit a scleral before, then you need to refer them to a scleral lens fitter in the area. If your office wants to begin fitting sclerals, then your doctor needs to begin the proper training to do so. There is a lot involved with scleral lenses, as they are far more customized for the patient than just about any other lens. They're not a soft lens, and generally require special equipment to properly map the surface of the eye for the proper fit. They are yearly, and warranties are up to the manufacturer. And they are by no means inexpensive. Most insurances require medical diagnosis (generally a scleral wearer is in them for a specific reason), as they are generally not elective lenses. So like Kwill said, cancel the appointment and find them a doctor that does scleral fittings. Getting the proper training and equipment is not an overnight process. We do sclerals and we've had patients move out of the country or out of the state, and we take the time to research and find them a good doctor to refer them to for their future needs.

[juno]

If your office has never fit a scleral before, then you need to refer them to a scleral lens fitter in the area. If your office wants to begin fitting sclerals, then your doctor needs to begin the proper training to do so. There is a lot involved with scleral lenses, as they are far more customized for the patient than just about any other lens. They're not a soft lens, and generally require special equipment to properly map the surface of the eye for the proper fit. They are yearly, and warranties are up to the manufacturer. And they are by no means inexpensive. Most insurances require medical diagnosis (generally a scleral wearer is in them for a specific reason), as they are generally not elective lenses. So like Kwill said, cancel the appointment and find them a doctor that does scleral fittings. Getting the proper training and equipment is not an overnight process. We do sclerals and we've had patients move out of the country or out of the state, and we take the time to research and find them a good doctor to refer them to for their future needs.

K, good to know! This was a very helpful post, as again, no institutional knowledge about them beyond our doctor having a brief chat some time ago with a corneal specialist and being told sclerals were "like magic"

Call them back and cancel the appointment, or find them a scleral lens fitter in your area for a referral. Unbelievable.

This was a less helpful post, however. Came at me at like an 8, only needed to maybe be a 4

[Kwill212]

This was a less helpful post, however. Came at me at like an 8, only needed to maybe be a 4

Attempting to fit a medical device for a patient with zero idea how to do it by consulting a message board, should have came at a 10.

[IIxIPariahIxII]

K, good to know! This was a very helpful post, as again, no institutional knowledge about them beyond our doctor having a brief chat some time ago with a corneal specialist and being told sclerals were "like magic"


This was a less helpful post, however. Came at me at like an 8, only needed to maybe be a 4

They do work like magic for patients once you get them comfortably fit. First time is not always the "best" fit, so definitely some trial and error. As well, if you guys do end up getting into sclerals, make sure your patients get the coating on them. Makes a HUGE difference.

And I think this was more of a "don't shoot the messenger" moment. Kwill has a point, but I think that falls more on the doctor than the optician, the doctor should have done research prior. And honestly, coming to a professional board for advice wasn't a bad move because there were people who immediately said ABORT ABORT lol And then gave the reasons why. We're all here to help, and Kwill's response certainly echoed the gravity of the situation.