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Advancements in eye care technology are revolutionizing the design and fitting of contact lenses, providing new options for patients with complex vision needs. One of the most significant breakthroughs is the use of 3D eye mapping, which enables an unprecedented scleral lens fit and visual stability. The sMap3D™ system is transforming the process of scleral lens fitting by providing highly detailed mapping of the ocular surface.
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter, rigid contact lenses that rest on the sclera instead of the cornea. The sclera (the white of the eye) is significantly less sensitive than the cornea, which has up to 600 times as many pain receptors as skin. When the cornea is irregularly shaped, it can distort vision and make normal eyesight correction challenging. Scleral lenses vault over the cornea, creating a small space between the lens and the cornea.
The small posterior space is a fluid reservoir that is filled with saline daily before lens insertion. The saline solution continually bathes the cornea, which can reduce discomfort, aid healing, and prevent further damage. We use scleral lenses in the management of numerous ocular conditions due to their unique design.
Scleral lenses are 100% custom-made to fit each patient’s eye precisely for optimal comfort and fit. Their unique design and high level of customization make scleral lenses an ideal choice for managing numerous ocular conditions. Thanks to sMap3D™ technology, scleral lenses are now even more advanced, making fitting and design even more customized than ever before.
What Is sMap3D™?
Ocular topographic mapping is a critical part of the scleral lens fitting process. Detailed ocular mapping help your eyecare practitioner design scleral lenses that fit your unique eye shape uniquely and comfortably. Traditionally, scleral lenses required multiple appointments and rounds of trial and error to achieve an adequatefit. The sMap3D™ is a highly advanced alternative that provides a precise map of the cornea and sclera in less than five minutes.
sMap3D™ is a corneo-scleral topography system that requires three images of the patient’s eyes looking up, down, and straight ahead. The sMap3D™ system collects over a million measurement points from the images. It combines them to create an accurate 3-D map of the corneal and scleral surface. Your eyecare practitioner will then use a lens design suggested by the system and proceed with an over-refraction test that provides the final details needed to create your lenses.
What Are the Benefits of sMap3D™?
sMap3D™ technology allows us to create precise, custom-fit scleral lenses that provide superior vision correction. Scleral lenses are designed with a large diameter and a fluid-filled reservoir that sits between the lens and the cornea. This tear film reservoir not only helps maintain corneal hydration and comfort but also plays a key role in neutralizing irregular astigmatism by creating a smooth optical surface over the cornea.
sMap3D™ streamlines the scleral lens fitting process by reducing reliance on trial lenses and minimizing the number of follow-up visits often required with traditional methods. While scleral lens fittings can still be complex, this technology helps create highly customized lenses from the start, improving initial comfort and vision outcomes for patients with irregular corneas or ocular surface disease.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for sMap3D™ Scleral Lenses?
For people with corneal irregularities, traditional glasses or contact lenses often don’t provide clear or comfortable vision. Scleral lenses are different they vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). This design creates a cushion of fluid between the lens and the eye, helping to protect sensitive areas, reduce irritation, and improve vision.
Clear, sharp vision relies on light passing uninterrupted through the cornea to the retina, which translates the light into signals that allow our brains to form a picture. When the cornea is misshapen or damaged, light cannot pass through correctly, resulting in various vision problems, such as blurriness and distortion. Many conditions can cause corneal irregularities, and their severity can dramatically affect visual acuity.
Keratoconus is an ocular condition that causes corneal bulging, making traditional soft contact lens wear uncomfortable. Soft contacts need to lie flat against the cornea to work effectively, making it challenging to find a method that provides adequate vision correction for an irregular cornea. Scleral lenses, however, create a smooth ocular surface, allowing them to act as a substitute cornea to neutralize the irregularities that cause blurry vision.
Astigmatism and corneal scarring can also affect how light enters the eye. If soft lenses and glasses do not provide the corrective benefits the patient needs, scleral lenses are an excellent alternative. Post-surgical patients can also benefit from scleral lenses as they are comfortable to wear and do not touch the cornea during the healing process. The fluid reservoir also keeps the eye hydrated, helps it heal and prevents infections and scarring.
Patients with severe dry eye syndrome can also benefit from scleral lenses due to the large diameter protective layer they provide. Scleral lenses reduce premature evaporation and protect the eye from environmental factors, such as wind and dust. The fluid reservoir also helps keep the corneal surface lubricated, preventing friction that can cause lesions and ulcers.
Transforming Vision With sMap3D™
The integration of 3D ocular surface mapping technology has made it easier than ever for patients with complex eye issues to enjoy clear, comfortable vision. Capturing precise measurements, sMap3D™ facilitates the creation of unique scleral lenses. Adequately fitting scleral lenses result in improved comfort, enhanced vision, and a faster fitting process.
Whether you have keratoconus, severe dry eye, or post-surgical ectasia, The Weston Contact Lens Institute can provide the support you need. Contact us to schedule a consultation, and our expert practitioners will help you find the ideal solution.
