Clearer vision involves more than reading a smaller line on the eye chart. At Vision Camberwell Optometrists, we combine advanced scleral lens design, detailed clinical assessment and close collaboration with our contact lens laboratories to refine vision for people with complex corneal conditions.
If glare, ghosting or reduced clarity persists with your current lenses, we investigate the cause and assess whether a more tailored optical design could help.
Contents
Why vision can remain distorted
A scleral lens vaults over the cornea and rests on the conjunctiva overlying the sclera, the white of the eye. The lens is filled with preservative-free saline before insertion. Together, the lens and fluid reservoir help mask irregularities of the front corneal surface and create a smoother optical system. This can substantially improve vision in keratoconus and other irregular-cornea conditions by providing a smoother optical surface while the lens is worn, rather than intentionally reshaping the cornea. 1
Even a well-fitted scleral lens may leave some optical distortion uncorrected. Residual higher-order aberrations can contribute to glare, halos or ghosting, but these symptoms can also arise from lens fit, surface wetting, deposits, fogging, residual prescription or other eye conditions. The amount of remaining distortion varies between eyes, so symptoms need an individual assessment rather than an assumed percentage of uncorrected aberration. 1
What higher-order aberrations are
Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and regular astigmatism are lower-order refractive errors, usually corrected with a standard sphere-and-cylinder prescription. Higher-order aberrations are more complex distortions, including coma, trefoil and spherical aberration. They can affect image quality even when the conventional prescription is accurate. An irregular cornea is an important source, although other optical structures within the eye also contribute. 1 Laser eye surgery can also leave the cornea optically irregular; see our page on contact lenses after laser eye surgery.
How lens fit and optics are assessed
Your vision, prescription and eye health
Our approach brings lens fit, optical design and your real-world visual needs into the same assessment. We assess the prescription over your lenses, their position and stability, the condition of the lens surface and the health of your eyes. We also ask when the distortion occurs and how it affects activities such as reading, computer work and night driving. This helps us decide which changes are most likely to make a useful difference.
Lens position and stability
A stable fit provides the foundation for advanced optics. We assess centration, movement and rotational stability before refining the optical design, because the position of the correction relative to the eye matters. Research on wavefront-guided scleral lenses highlights the importance of precise alignment when correcting residual aberrations. 2
Available options at VCO
Advanced scleral optics are part of the personalised lens care we provide at Vision Camberwell Optometrists. Where the assessment indicates an optical limitation, we work with our contact lens laboratories to design and order lenses with modified optics intended to improve visual quality and address residual distortion. The design and assessment pathway are selected for the individual eye. Our scleral lens fitting, fees and ongoing care page explains the wider fitting and review process.
Clinical expertise, careful design choices and assessment of the lens on the eye all contribute to this process. We judge the result by the clarity, comfort and practical benefit you experience, alongside our clinical findings. Further refinements may be needed, and we will explain the purpose of a proposed change before proceeding.
What improvement can and cannot be expected
Setting expectations for your eyes
The aim is to improve the aspects of vision that matter to you, including persistent ghosting, glare or reduced clarity where these can be addressed through lens design. The degree of improvement depends on the source of the distortion, the optical design and how consistently the lens holds its intended position. Corneal scarring or other eye conditions may also limit the result. We will explain realistic expectations for your eyes; advanced optics cannot guarantee perfect vision.
What wavefront-guided research tells us
A clinical trial of individually measured wavefront-guided scleral lenses have shown additional improvements in optical quality and vision in selected patients. These designs use measured residual wavefront data to customise the correction. Advanced optical modifications encompass a wider range of approaches, so results from a particular wavefront-guided system should not be treated as a predicted outcome for every custom lens. 2
Your next step
If your scleral lenses are comfortable but your vision still falls short of what you need, book a review with Vision Camberwell Optometrists to explore whether further optical refinement could help. Bring your current lenses and describe the situations in which vision is most difficult. If clarity changes during the day or discomfort is the main concern, see our scleral lens fogging, discomfort and refitting page. If you are new to scleral lenses, our scleral lens fitting, fees and ongoing care page explains how to get started.
Before your appointment
Bring the information that will help us understand your eyes:
- Your current lenses, glasses, care products and any available prescription or corneal-scan records.
- A note of whether ghosting is constant or changes through the day, and which tasks are affected.
Ask us how long to wear the lenses beforehand. If you have pain, redness or sudden visual change, remove the lenses and seek urgent advice rather than wearing them to demonstrate the problem. 3
Questions patients often ask
Can advanced scleral optics help if I still see ghost images?
They may help when residual optical distortion contributes to the problem. We first check the prescription, fit, lens surface and eye health, because ghosting does not identify its own cause. The most useful change may be an optical refinement, a fit adjustment or treatment of another problem. 1
Are all advanced scleral lenses wavefront-guided?
No. Advanced optical modifications cover several approaches. Individually wavefront-guided lenses use measured residual aberrations to design a correction for that eye. We explain the design proposed for you and the assessment it requires; results from one wavefront-guided system cannot be assumed for every custom lens. 2
Can you review lenses fitted elsewhere?
Yes. Bring your current lenses, care products and any available fitting records or corneal scans. We will assess what is working, what is limiting your vision and whether further refinement is worthwhile. Ask us how long to wear your lenses before the appointment.
Should I wait for an optics appointment if my eye is painful or suddenly blurry?
No. Remove the lens and seek urgent eye care for pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge or a sudden reduction in vision. Do not reinsert it while waiting for advice. If we are closed or unavailable, seek urgent assessment elsewhere. 3
Visit Vision Camberwell Optometrists
Vision Camberwell Optometrists is at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell VIC 3124, in Melbourne’s inner east. We welcome patients from Camberwell, Hawthorn, Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury and across Melbourne. Consultations are available in English and Mandarin with Jue Wang; mention your language preference when booking.
Call (03) 9882 5666 or contact our team to arrange an appointment and confirm the right appointment type for your needs.
References
- Barone V, Petrini D, Nunziata S, et al. Impact of Scleral Lenses on Visual Acuity and Ocular Aberrations in Corneal Ectasia: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2024;14(10):1051. doi:10.3390/jpm14101051.
- Gelles JD, Su B, Kelly D, et al. Visual Improvement With Wavefront-Guided Scleral Lenses for Irregular Corneal Astigmatism. Eye & Contact Lens. 2025;51(2):58–64. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000001152.
- United States Food and Drug Administration. Contact Lens Risks. Accessed 11 September 2026.
Reviewed by Dr Shonit Jagmohan, B.Optom (Hons), FIAOMC, IACMM, Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, Fellowship Chair for the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (Oceania). Last reviewed October 2026.
Visit us in Camberwell
T. (03) 9882 5666
E. vision@visioncamberwell.com.au
Find Us at:
784 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Victoria 3124, Australia
Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday. 9am – 6pm
Wednesday. 9am – 5pm
Thursday. 10.30am – 7.30pm
Saturday. CLOSED
Book your appointment with one of our friendly team members today
T: (03) 9882 5666
Serving Camberwell and the Surrounding South Eastern Suburbs
An independent practice in Camberwell since 1951, we are experts in specialty contact lenses, including advanced scleral lens optics for keratoconus and irregular corneas. We welcome patients from Hawthorn, Deepdene, Surrey Hills, Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury, Box Hill, Glen Iris, and across greater Melbourne.
