GP and Scleral Lens care: What’s Different?

If you already wear gas permeable (GP) or scleral lenses or you just got your first pair, you know that it is not that easy. Maybe you wear them for keratoconus, high myopia, or because your cornea has an irregular shape. These lenses often give clearer, sharper vision, but they also require a slightly different kind of care. Let’s learn together!

Unlike soft lenses, GP and scleral lenses are made from firm materials. This makes them durable, stable, and excellent for correcting complex vision problems. But it also means deposits – especially oils from your tear film that can stick to the surface more easily.

Scleral lenses are larger than GPs and sit on the white part of your eyes. They hold a small cushion of fluid underneath them that protects the cornea. However, because the fluid stays in place for many hours, cleanliness becomes even more important.

If lenses are not cleaned thoroughly, tiny deposits can build up on their surface. Over time, this may cause:

• Blurry or fluctuating vision
• Lens discomfort
• Redness or irritation

For people with keratoconus or dry eyes, even small surface changes can affect comfort. Because your cornea may already be more sensitive, proper cleaning is part of protecting your eye health long-term.

To be honest: Yes, but not as much as you think.

GP and scleral lenses benefit from careful rubbing and rinsing before insertion and after removal. This removes the oils and debris that collect on the lens throughout the day. Simply soaking the lens is not enough; a gentle but thorough cleaning makes a big difference in comfort with extended lens wear.

In addition, because each pair of these lenses are used for a longer duration compared to reusable soft lenses, they require more diligent care to maintain comfort with longer-term use. Scleral lenses also require a non-preserved saline solution in the bowl of the lens prior to insertion unlike soft lenses. This fluid reservoir protects the cornea during lens wear and allows for added comfort.

Choose a multi-purpose solution that is designed to clean, disinfect, and store which helps maintain the surface quality of rigid lenses all in one solution. A balanced formula helps remove deposits while staying gentle on your eyes.

For example, WE CARE Multi-Purpose Solution supports daily cleaning and disinfection while helping maintain lens wettability, so your lenses feel smoother and clearer.

During the day, lubricating drops can improve comfort. WE FRESH Lubricating Eye Drops can be used to refresh your eyes before inserting or after removing your lenses and support tear film stability which is less likely to disrupt vision.

Think of your lens care like brushing your teeth: it’s a daily habit that protects something important. Set a consistent time each morning and evening to clean your lenses before insertion and after removal. Keep your solution bottle in a visible place for easy access while handling your lenses with each use. Replace your lens case regularly. Small steps can create big long-term benefits.

If you ever notice more redness, cloudiness, or discomfort than usual, don’t ignore it. It could be a sign of a bigger problem. Contact your eye doctor so they can check it out and, if needed, adjust your lens care routine.

GP and scleral lenses give many people (especially those with keratoconus or high myopia) clear vision that may not be achievable otherwise. But because they are different, their care must also be different.

With the right cleaning routine and supportive products, you’re not just maintaining your lenses—you’re protecting your eyes and your vision for the long term.

Because your eyes deserve thoughtful care.

#BECAUSEWECARE

Visual quality with corneo-scleral contact lenses for keratoconus management (2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29398334/

Comparative Analysis of Tear Proteins in Keratoconic Scleral Lens Wearers with Variation in Limbal Clearance (2021): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/OPX.0000000000001645

Tear dynamics under scleral lenses (2019): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30545775/

Effect of Scleral Lens Oxygen Permeability on Corneal Physiology (2020): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32932393/

Quantifying the Optical and Physical Consequences of Daily Cleaning on Conventional and Wavefront-guided Scleral Lenses (2020): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32941335/

Scleral Lens Fenestrations and Fluid Reservoir Debris (2026): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42501255/

About Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Storing Contact Lenses (2025): https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/about-cleaning-disinfecting-and-storing-contact-lenses.html