What condition is most likely to be treated with a scleral lens?

Scleral lenses are specifically designed to vault over the cornea and rest on the scleral white part of the eye, which makes them particularly beneficial for patients with irregular corneas. Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape, leading to significant visual distortion and discomfort. Scleral lenses can provide a smooth optical surface, allowing for improved vision and comfort, as they help to neutralize the irregularities caused by the cone shape of the keratoconus-affected cornea.

In contrast, astigmatism can often be corrected with regular soft or hard contact lenses that are toric in design. Premature cataract is typically treated with surgical intervention rather than contact lenses. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is commonly corrected with standard spherical lenses, whether glasses or regular contact lenses, rather than scleral lenses. This highlights the unique application of scleral lenses primarily for managing conditions like keratoconus that involve irregularities of the corneal surface.