How To Remove Scleral Lens Without A Plunger

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Scleral lenses are used to help forbid middle damage after surgery, afterward an injury or corneal transplant, and to correct sure kinds of vision bug, such every bit keratoconus. A scleral lens is much bigger than a regular contact lens, so you have to follow a special procedure to insert and remove it. When inserting a scleral lens, the middle needs to be held broad open. Removing the lens tin can feel strange at get-go considering the lens is suctioned to your eye, and you must interruption this suction to remove the lens. Just remember that exercise makes perfect!

1
Launder your hands thoroughly and remove any eye makeup. To reduce the risk of an eye infection, never touch a scleral lens unless your hands are clean. Launder with a mild soap that doesn't contain moisturizers, and dry your hands with a make clean, lint-free towel.^[one]
- If yous wear whatsoever type of makeup effectually your optics, remove information technology completely with a gentle cleanser—baby shampoo is a swell choice— and dry the area with a clean, lint-gratis towel. Otherwise, you might transfer makeup to the inside of the lens and trap it confronting your eye.
2
Pluck the lens from its case and stick it on a lens plunger. Use the pads of the fingertips—not the nails—of your index finger, middle finger, and thumb to grasp the lens effectually its edge and pull information technology from the case. Then, if y'all accept a pair of color-coded lens plungers, press the suction cup of the "insertion" plunger onto the outside of the lens. Don't centre the plunger on the lens, though—stick it right near the exterior edge.^[2]
- If you don't have a lens plunger, maintain a "tripod" grip with your three fingertips. Information technology's a flake more challenging simply still very manageable to insert the lens with just your fingers.^[3]
- If you accept two scleral lenses, it'southward important that you put the correct lens in the correct eye each time. The easiest way to keep track is to always insert and remove the same lens offset—for example, ever do the right-eye lens showtime.^[four]
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three
Fill the lens with saline solution later on checking it for damage. Take a close wait all effectually the lens for fries, cracks, scratches, or stuck-on debris. If you detect any of these, don't insert the lens—telephone call your centre doctor instead. Otherwise, hold the lens underside-up so that you tin fill information technology completely with saline solution.^[5]
- Your eye medico will likely recommend that you utilize a specific type of saline solution with your scleral lenses. Don't utilize saline intended for typical contact lenses unless advised to do so.
- Try to continue the lens completely filled with saline until it touches your eye. If you spill more than a tiny corporeality, refill it.
iv
Lean forwards over a table or counter and expect towards your chin. Bend your upper body and neck and so that your face is parallel to the tabular array (if you're sitting) or countertop (if y'all're continuing). While keeping your caput in this position, attempt to expect down at your mentum so that your eyeballs are at your lower eyelids.^[6]
- Place a towel on the tabular array or countertop. That way, if the lens falls, it won't interruption.
- Y'all demand to put in scleral lenses past "feel," not by looking. Even so, you may want to lay a small mirror on the table or counter for the first few times you try this. Doing so may help you keep your caput in the proper parallel position.^[seven]
5
Peel back your eyelids with one hand, and insert the lens with the other. Use the thumb and forefinger of your gratis hand to push your eyelids every bit far out of the way as possible. And so, with the lens suctioned to the plunger or counterbalanced on your "tripod" of fingers on your other manus, lift the lens directly up and press it to the heart of your eyeball.^[eight]
- Some of the saline in the lens "basin" will spill out as you press the lens against your eyeball. Don't worry most this.
- Scleral lenses are much larger than typical contacts, then yous really demand to peel back your eyelids to go them out of the way.
- It may have a few tries before you tin easily eye the lens over your eyeball—but you'll go the hang of information technology!
6
Pull away the plunger and/or your fingers every bit you close your eye over the lens. Allow your eyelids to relax slightly, then that they overlap the edges of the scleral lens—this, along with suction to your eyeball, volition hold the lens in place. Then, pull away the lens plunger or your finger "tripod," and remove your other paw as well so your center can close fully.https://www.wikihow.com/Insert-and-Remove-a-Scleral-Lens
- Blink a few times, so look in a mirror. If the lens feels and looks like information technology'south centered, and if you lot can meet conspicuously and don't see whatever air bubbles beneath the lens, the lens is in the right place. Move on to the other lens if you lot take two of them.
- If the lens isn't centered or doesn't feel right in your middle, follow the instructions for removing a lens, then repeat the insertion procedure from the outset (including washing your hands).^[nine]
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1
Wash your hands and remove any eye makeup. Follow the same procedures for cleaning your easily and washing away eye makeup as you did before inserting your lens or lenses. It'southward disquisitional to go along bacteria and unwanted compounds out of your eyes, in order to reduce your chances of getting an eye infection.^[x]
- Utilize gentle cleansers, similar a mild soap for your hands and infant shampoo for your makeup, and dry with a clean, lint-free material.
2

Look direct ahead into a mirror to locate the lens in your heart. Different inserting a lens, when you lot desire to bend and then that your confront is pointed direct downwards, proceed your head completely upright for lens removal. Look direct into the bathroom mirror, for instance, and place a towel over the sink and counter beneath so the lens doesn't break if it falls out.^[xi]
iii

Peel dorsum your eyelids until your can see all around the edge of the lens. Utilise your pollex and forefinger on i hand to push your eyelids as far upward and downwards every bit possible. The unabridged circumference of the scleral lens should be visible when you expect in the mirror.^[12]
4
Stick the removal plunger to the center of the lens and pull information technology out (option i). If your scleral lens or lenses came with a pair of color-coded lens plungers, use the "removal" plunger. Stick the suction cup of the plunger confronting the middle of the lens, then pull away slowly. If your eyelids are clear of the lens, it should come up out with a bit of resistance just non much difficulty.^[13]
- You don't take to printing the plunger difficult against the lens (and your middle). However, do utilise balmy pressure so that the suction cup takes concord.
- If you're having trouble getting the suction cup to stick, dip it in some clean saline solution.
- If in that location's any saline solution inside the lens, drain it before yous clean the lens.^[14]
five
Employ your fingers and an eyelid to wedge out the lens (option 2). While keeping your face aimed directly ahead, point your eyes downwards. Printing your index finger (and the elevation eyelid information technology's belongings open) towards your olfactory organ, then press in against your eyeball, down, and slightly outward toward your temple. This will cause your upper eyelid to slide underneath the summit edge of the lens, causing its suction concord to suspension.^[15]
- The lens will fall out of your heart once the suction agree is broken. Either have your free hand prepare to grab it, or place a thick towel on the countertop below you.
- This maneuver may accept some practise to become right. If yous have a removal plunger available, use it instead.
- Alternatively, you can perform the same maneuver with your lower eyelid, if that'south easier for you.
6
Make clean and store your lens every bit directed past your heart physician. Your instructions may vary slightly, but y'all'll always need to rinse the lens with saline solution correct after removing it from your eye. After that, expect to practice the post-obit:^[sixteen]
- Utilize your doctor's recommended lens cleaning solution to both sides of the lens, so rub both sides gently betwixt the pads of your index fingertip and thumb tip—don't use your fingernails!
- Rinse the lens with saline solution again to remove the cleaning solution.
- Utilise a soft, clean tissue to gently dab the lens clean.
- Put the lens in its storage case when information technology is completely dry.
- Movement on to removing your other lens, if yous have lenses for both eyes.
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Is it hard to put in and take out a scleral lens?

Dr. Rajesh Khanna is a lath certified Ophthalmologist and the Founder of Khanna Vision Institute in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Khanna specializes in Lasik, cataract, and refractive eye surgery as well as treatments for presbyopia and keratoconus. Dr. Khanna completed his first Ophthalmology Residency in Mumbai and his second Ophthalmology Residency at SUNY Downstate in New York City. He went on to complete a fellowship training in corneal and refractive surgery from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and a Neurophthalmology fellowship from Kingsbrook Jewish Hospital in New York City. Dr. Khanna is also a voluntary member of the UCLA faculty and is an Internationally recognized top Lasik, presbyopic implants in the centre (PIE), and Refractive vision care specialist. He is board certified past the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a certified Primary of Surgery past the University of Bombay.

Board Certified Ophthalmologist

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What patients volition ordinarily do is use a small apparatus, like a suction device, with which they can lift up the scleral contact lens, add saline solution, then apply information technology to the eye and release the lens in the eye. To remove it, you put on the appliance, look up, pull the lower part out, drain the fluid, and so remove the balance of the lens.

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Never reuse saline solution!

Things You'll Need

Saline solution
Lens cleaning solution
Scleral lens case
Soap and water
Clean, soft fabric
Mirror
Towel
Lens plungers (optional but recommended)

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