Scleral contact lens care: cleaning, insertion and removal

Work over a clean surface with good lighting and a mirror. Wash your hands with soap and dry them thoroughly with a clean, lint-free towel. Keep your right and left lenses separate using the labels on your case.

Inspect each lens for chips, cracks or deposits. Do not wear a damaged lens. Keep bottle tips clean and avoid touching them to your fingers, lens or eye. Check expiry dates and follow each product’s discard-after-opening instructions. Do not keep an opened single-use saline vial for another day.

Never substitute tap, bottled or distilled water, homemade saline or saliva for lens-care products. Remove lenses before showering or swimming. ³

1. Complete the prescribed cleaning and disinfection cycle first.
2. Rinse as directed with the recommended sterile solution. Place the lens on the insertion aid or fingers using the method taught at your fitting.
3. Fill the bowl with fresh sterile, preservative-free saline recommended for scleral lens filling. Do not add drops or mix products unless your optometrist has specifically instructed you to do so.
4. Hold your eyelids open and insert the lens using your taught technique, keeping the fluid in the bowl.
5. Check vision and comfort. If an air bubble is trapped, remove the lens, refill with fresh solution and reinsert. Do not continue wearing a lens with a known bubble. ¹

A filling solution is not interchangeable with a cleaner or disinfectant. Never put unneutralised peroxide or protein-removal solution in the lens bowl before insertion.

Use the removal method demonstrated for your lens and removal aid. With the prescribed scleral removal tool, placement towards the lower edge helps release the seal; avoid attaching it to the centre and pulling against resistance.

Do not pinch or bend a rigid lens as if it were a soft lens, and never apply the tool directly to the eye without a lens present. Manual removal needs individual demonstration rather than a generic gripping instruction.

If the lens will not release, stop pulling. Follow the troubleshooting technique you were taught and contact the practice if you cannot remove it safely. Pain or a significant change in vision needs prompt assessment. ¹

Use the system prescribed for your lenses. Complete any required rubbing and rinsing steps before storage, following the product instructions and advice for your lens coating.

Use fresh disinfecting solution for every cycle. Do not reuse solution or top up what is already in the case. Saline alone does not provide disinfection. ^{2, 3}

1. Use only the specified peroxide lens-care product and its correct neutralising case, with a basket suitable for your lenses.
2. Fill to the marked level and follow the complete cleaning, soaking and neutralisation instructions.
3. Wait for the full time stated on the label. For a system labelled for six hours, complete at least six hours; do not shorten the cycle because you need the lenses sooner.
4. Never use unneutralised peroxide as an insertion rinse or put it directly in your eye.
5. Replace the neutralising case as directed, including using the new case supplied with a new bottle where specified. An ordinary flat case cannot replace the neutralising case. ²

A protein-removal treatment may be prescribed if deposits develop. Use it only at the interval recommended for your lenses and follow the complete product instructions. It does not replace routine daily care.

If Menicon Progent is prescribed, do not exceed its 30-minute treatment limit. Complete the specified rinsing and subsequent care steps before wearing the lenses. Do not improvise a stronger mixture or longer soak. ⁴

Do not use Progent on Tangible Hydra-PEG coated lenses. Use only coating-compatible cleaners, disinfectants and storage solutions. Hydra-PEG coated lenses must not be stored dry. If you are unsure whether your lenses are coated, check with us before changing products. ⁵

Clean and maintain the case and insertion or removal aids using the instructions for those specific items. Replace damaged or contaminated accessories and follow their replacement schedule.

Store lenses in the solution and case prescribed for them. Longer periods without wear may require a fresh disinfection cycle before reuse. Ask for advice before putting spare lenses into long-term storage, especially if they have a surface coating.

For travel, pack your prescribed products in their original labelled containers, a suitable case and clean handling tools. Do not decant disinfectant into an unlabelled bottle.

Some people need practice with handling, but pain or recurring redness should not be treated as normal adaptation. Follow your individual wearing schedule and do not sleep in scleral lenses unless specifically directed by your treating clinician.

If you have been taught to remove and refill a lens during the day, use clean hands and fresh filling solution. Recurrent fogging, shorter comfortable wearing time or blur that remains after removal needs assessment. Our scleral fogging and discomfort page explains the possible next steps. ¹

Remove the lens and seek prompt advice if you develop pain, increasing redness, light sensitivity, discharge or reduced vision. Do not reinsert it to see whether the problem settles.

Sudden or severe symptoms require urgent eye assessment. If the practice is closed, contact an urgent eye-care service or emergency department. Do not wait for the next routine review. ³

If handling is difficult, your solutions have changed or you are unsure about your routine, bring your lenses, case, tools and products to a review. We can check the fit and work through the steps with you.

Explore scleral lenses in Melbourne or our scleral fitting and fees page for assessment information. Corneal RGP wearers should use the separate RGP lens care guide and their individual instructions.

Contact Vision Camberwell Optometrists on 03 9882 5666. We are at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell.

References

1. Scleral Lens Education Society. Lens Handling FAQs. Accessed 5 October 2026.
2. US Food and Drug Administration. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. Accessed 5 October 2026.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Accessed 5 October 2026.
4. Menicon. Progent. Product instructions. Accessed 5 October 2026.
5. Tangible Science. Care Tips for Tangible Hydra-PEG Coated Lenses. Accessed 5 October 2026.