If you've recently started wearing them, you probably already know that finding the best eye drops for scleral lenses can honestly be a total game-changer for your daily comfort. Scleral lenses are incredible for vision—they can literally give people their lives back if they have keratoconus or severe dry eye—but they aren't exactly low-maintenance. Because these lenses are so large and sit over a reservoir of fluid, the way your eyes interact with drops is a bit different than it would be with standard soft contacts.
If you're dealing with that "gritty" feeling by 2:00 PM or noticing that your vision gets a little hazy halfway through the day, the right drops are going to be your best friend. But you can't just grab any random bottle off the shelf at the drugstore.
Why you have to be picky about your drops
The thing about scleral lenses is that they create a sealed environment. When you put a drop in your eye while wearing a scleral lens, some of that liquid can migrate under the lens and sit against your cornea for hours.
This is exactly why you have to avoid preservatives. Most standard "redness relief" or cheap artificial tears contain a preservative called benzalkonium chloride (BAK). For a normal eye, BAK is fine in small doses. But when it gets trapped under a scleral lens, it stays in contact with your eye for way too long and can actually cause toxic reactions or damage the surface of your cornea.
So, rule number one: if it isn't preservative-free (PF), don't put it anywhere near your scleral lenses.
The best eye drops for scleral lenses during the day
When we talk about "eye drops" for these lenses, we're usually talking about rewetting drops you use while the lenses are in. These help lubricate the outer surface of the lens and keep your eyelids from feeling like they're dragging across a piece of plastic.
Refresh Relieva PF
This is a huge favorite in the scleral lens community. It's specifically formulated to help with dryness and provides a nice, smooth coating on the lens. Since it comes in single-use vials, you know it's preservative-free. It's a bit more viscous than some other drops, which means it stays on the eye a little longer without making things blurry for more than a second or two.
Systane Hydration PF
Systane has been around forever, but their "Hydration" line is particularly good for scleral wearers. It uses hyaluronic acid (which sounds scary but is actually a natural lubricant found in your body) to help hold moisture. If you find that your lenses feel "stuck" or tight by the end of the day, a couple of drops of this can really loosen things up and make removal much easier.
Oasis Tears PF
You might have to look a little harder to find these, or even order them through your optometrist, but many people swear by them. They have a slightly thicker consistency that feels very "cushiony." If you have severe dry eye syndrome on top of your need for scleral lenses, Oasis Tears often provide the longest-lasting relief.
Dealing with the dreaded midday fogging
If you've been wearing sclerals for a while, you know the struggle. You're going about your day, and suddenly it feels like a cloud has moved into the room. This is usually "midday fogging," which happens when lipids and proteins from your tears get trapped in the reservoir under the lens.
While rewetting drops go on the outside, some people find that using a slightly thicker preservative-free drop inside the lens during the morning setup helps.
A popular trick is the "two-drop method." You fill your lens mostly with your standard saline (like ScleralFil or Purilens), but then you add one or two drops of a preservative-free lubricant like Refresh Celluvisc into the bowl of the lens before inserting it. Because Celluvisc is thicker, it helps keep those proteins from migrating under the lens, keeping your vision clear for way longer.
What about filling solutions?
Technically, filling solutions are "drops" because you're putting them in your eye, but they serve a different purpose. You cannot use standard multi-purpose contact lens solution to fill the bowl of a scleral lens. Again, it's all about the preservatives.
For the healthiest eyes, you want to use a buffered, preservative-free saline. Some people use the generic pink-cap saline vials, but those aren't pH-balanced for the eye. Using something like ScleralFil or Nutrifill is usually better because they mimic the natural pH and electrolyte balance of your actual tears. It sounds like a small detail, but your cornea will definitely notice the difference after twelve hours of wear.
Tips for applying drops with lenses in
It sounds simple, but there's a bit of a technique to it. If you just drop the liquid onto the center of the lens, it might just roll off.
I usually tell people to tilt their head back, pull down the lower lid slightly to create a little pocket, and aim the drop right in that gap. Then, blink a few times to spread the moisture across the surface of the lens. If you're using a thicker drop like Celluvisc, give it a moment; your vision might be a little "underwater" for about thirty seconds until it thins out.
Habits that help your drops work better
Even the best eye drops for scleral lenses can only do so much if you aren't taking care of the lenses themselves.
- Clean your lids: Sometimes the "dryness" you feel is actually blepharitis or oil buildup on your eyelids. Using a lid scrub or even just a warm compress in the morning can keep your tear film stable, which helps your eye drops last longer.
- Stay hydrated: It's a cliché, but if you're dehydrated, your eyes are going to be dry. Drinking more water actually improves the quality of the "buffer" layer between the lens and your eye.
- The "Squeegee" effect: If you get a smudge on the outside of your lens while you're out and about, don't just keep dumping drops in. Sometimes you need to take a moistened Q-tip (with saline) and gently "squeegee" the front of the lens to remove the protein buildup.
When to talk to your doctor
If you feel like you're needing to use drops every thirty minutes just to survive the day, something might be off. It could be that the fit of the lens needs a slight adjustment, or maybe you have an underlying condition like Ocular Rosacea that needs more than just over-the-counter drops.
Always check with your lens fitter before you start mixing and matching different products. They've seen it all and can usually tell just by looking at your tear film which brand is going to work best for your specific eye chemistry.
Wrapping things up
Scleral lenses are a big investment in your vision, and the drops you use are the "fuel" that keeps them running comfortably. Stick to preservative-free options like Refresh Relieva PF or Systane Hydration PF for daily rewetting, and don't be afraid to experiment with adding a thicker drop like Celluvisc to your filling routine if you're dealing with fogging.
Once you find that perfect combination, you'll stop thinking about your lenses and start just enjoying the clear vision they provide. It takes a little trial and error, but your eyes will definitely thank you for the extra effort.