Scleral Lens Care Instructions

How to safely use and care for your scleral lenses

Scleral lenses require specific daily care to ensure clear vision, comfort, and long-term eye health. This page walks you through everything you need to know about your lenses, from identifying your lenses to safely putting them in, taking them out, cleaning them, and storing them each day.  You’ll also find helpful tips, recommended solutions, and tool care guidance to keep your eyes comfortable and your lenses working their best. Following these simple steps, especially using preservative‑free saline and proper cleaning solutions, will help protect your eye health and make wearing your scleral lenses a positive, confident part of your daily routine.

Quick links

Lens identification

  • Right lens = Clear
  • Left lens = Blue 

Tip: “Right” and “Clear” both have 5 letters. “Left” and “Blue” both have 4.

How to apply and remove your scleral lenses

Learn how to properly put in and take out your scleral lens.

Application (putting in your scleral lenses)

Before you start:

  • Wash hands thoroughly with unscented soap (no lotion) and dry with a lint-free towel 
  • Set up a clean, well-lit area  
  • Equipment needed: scleral lens remover, contact lens case, contact lens disinfecting solution 

Steps

  1. Remove lens from the case and rinse the lens with preservative-free saline. (first photo below)  
  2. Place lens on the scleral lens applicator.  
  3. Fill the lens completely to the brim with preservative-free saline (middle photo below)  
  4. Check for and remove any bubbles in the lens bowl.  
  5. Lean forward so your face is parallel to the ground. 
  6. Hold both eyelids open. 
  7. Look straight down and gently place the lens onto the eye (third photo below)
  8. Slowly release eyelids before removing the applicator tool away from eye.  
  9. Check for any bubbles in the mirror.  

If something feels off

  • If vision is blurry or uncomfortable, there is very likely a bubble: remove, refill, and reapply 
  • If it is still blurry after reapplying: check to ensure there is no bubble under the lens and that the lens is in the correct eye (right lens is usually clear, left lens is usually blue)  
The hand holds a scleral contact lens and the other holds wetting drops.
Step 1: Place lens on your inserter (plunger) or fingertips.
A person holds an orange contact lens applicator in one hand and a small bottle of solution in the other.
Step 3: Fill the lens completely to the brim with preservative-free saline.
A person leans over a mirror while putting a scleral contact lens into their eye with an orange applicator.
Step 7: Look straight down and gently place the lens onto the eye.

Tutorial video for how to insert and remove scleral contact lenses

Removal (taking out your scleral lenses)

Before you start

  • Wash hands thoroughly with unscented soap (no lotion) and dry with a lint-free towel 
  • Set up a clean, well-lit area  
  • Equipment needed: scleral lens remover, contact lens case, contact lens disinfecting solution   

Steps

  1. Look straight ahead into a mirror while pulling the lower lid down to expose the lower edge of the lens.   
  2. Place removal tool on the lower edge of the lens. Do not aim at the center of the lens (first phot below)
  3. Gently press to create suction.  
  4. Tilt the removal tool slightly to break the seal (middle photo below) 
  5. Remove the lens slowly and carefully by pulling it away from your eye. 
  6. Hold the edge of the lens and carefully twist the lens off the removal tool.  

After removal

A close up of a woman's face as she puts a blue contact lens removal tool on top of her contact lens in her eye.
Step 2: Place plunger on the lower edge of the lens (not the center).
A close up of a woman's face as she pulls a contact lens out of her eye with a blue contact lens removal tool.
Step 4: Tilt the plunger slightly to break the seal.
A close up of a person's hands removing the scleral lens from the plunger tool.
Step 6: Hold the edge of the lens and carefully twist the lens off the removal tool.

Helpful tips for application and removal

  • Keep your head down during insertion to prevent saline spilling
  • If you keep getting bubbles, try overfilling the lens slightly
  • If the lens feels “stuck,” use a lubricating drop before removal
  • Never force the lens off, always break the seal gently

Tutorial video about how to remove scleral lenses using the plunger method

Cleaning and storage

Daily cleaning and storage for your scleral lenses

Occurs immediately after lens removal:  

  1. After the lens is off the removal tool, place lens in palm of your hand. 
  2. Add 3-4 drops of cleaning/disinfecting solution on the lens.  
  3. Gently rub both sides for 10 seconds. 
  4. Place lenses in the correct side of the case. 
  5. Fill case with new contact lens disinfecting solution (never top off solution from the night before). 
  6. Close case and store overnight. 

Lens case and tool care

It's important to take good, consistent care of your scleral lens equipment, including:

  • Remove any old solution once your lenses are on. Do not close your case while wet. Let it air dry in between uses.  
  • Clean case and tools 2–3 times per week alcohol wipes or hydrogen peroxide. Never use tap water to clean your tools. After cleaning, let everything air dry completely on a clean tissue or paper towel prior to using. 

Replacement timing:  

  • Lens case and scleral lens tools: every 2-3 months  
  • Scleral lenses: 1-2 years (at the discretion of your doctor)  

Where to buy tools 

It is recommended that the following search terms be used to get the correct tools: 

  • DMV Scleral Lens Inserter: Available in the OHSU Medical Contact Lens Clinic or online (such as Amazon or DryEyeShop) 
  • DMV Contact Lens Remover: Available at the OHSU Medical Contact Lens Clinic or online (such as Amazon or DryEyeShop) 

Saline solution, cleaning solution, and eye drops

Saline solutions for scleral lenses

Saline is used to fill your lens before putting it on your eye. It is NOT a cleaning solution.  

Your doctor will prescribe preservative-free saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution) to your pharmacy. If it is not covered by your insurance plan, preservative-free saline is also available for purchase without a prescription. Both generic and brand-name options are acceptable. 

Preservative-free saline products fall into two categories: 

  1. Buffered saline (e.g., Nutrifill, Purilens, ScleralFil) – These solutions contain buffering agents that help raise and stabilize the pH, making it more similar to the natural pH of the eye. 
  2. Unbuffered saline (e.g., LacriPure, Tangible Fill, VibrantVue) – These solutions contain only 0.9% sodium chloride and purified water, with no added buffering agents. 

Key Things To Remember:  

  • Use new vials each day. Discard the vial once lenses have been successfully applied on.  
  • Do NOT use saline for storing lenses overnight 
  • Only use single-use preservative-free saline. Do not use bottled saline labeled as “saline eye wash” or anything in a large bottle as many of those solutions contain preservatives. Preservatives can be toxic to the cornea and irritate the surface of your eye.  

Where to purchase saline without a prescription:  

  • Online: Amazon or DryEyeShop 

Approved cleaning solutions for scleral lenses

The following cleaning solutions are approved for cleaning and storing your scleral lenses. Please do not use any other cleaning solution unless it has been recommended by your eye care provider. 

  • Unique pH (Menicon) 
  • Boston Simplus 
  • Tangible Clean 

 Please refer to the cleaning section of this guide for instructions on how to clean your scleral lenses after removal. 

Approved eye drops for scleral lenses

If your scleral lenses begin to feel dry, blurry, or uncomfortable during the day, you may use preservative-free lubricating eye drops while wearing your lenses. These drops help improve comfort and can temporarily relieve dryness. 

Only use preservative-free eye drops while wearing your scleral lenses. Eye drops containing preservatives can build up on your lenses and may cause irritation on the surface of your eyes.  

Recommended Preservative-Free Eye Drops 

Examples of preservative-free artificial tears include: 

  • Refresh Relieva PF 
  • Refresh Plus 
  • Refresh Celluvisc* (for thicker lubrication) 
  • Systane Hydration PF 
  • Systane Complete PF 
  • Biotrue Hydration Boost PF 
  • Ivizia Preservative-Free Lubricating Drops 
  • Optase Hylorelief  

*Refresh Celluvisc is a thicker drop that may temporarily blur your vision. It can be especially helpful for patients with more severe dryness. 

Important Tips 

  • Use only preservative-free lubricating eye drops while your scleral lenses are in your eyes. 
  • Avoid "redness relief" or medicated eye drops unless specifically recommended by your doctor. 
  • If your lenses continue to feel dry despite using lubricating drops, remove the lenses, clean them if needed, and refill them with fresh preservative-free saline before reinserting. 
  • If you experience persistent discomfort, redness, pain, light sensitivity, or decreased vision, remove your lenses and contact your eye care provider. 

Resources

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