Before your fitting, you may be wondering whether you need to stop wearing your current lenses. According to Dr. Michael Antoine, “If the patient is already wearing lenses, they're just going to take them off like they would take their glasses off.” For those not currently wearing contact lenses, simply bring your glasses with you. It’s helpful if you also bring any past prescriptions or records from previous eye care providers.
Whether you wear lenses or not, we’ll take it from there. There’s no need to skip contacts for days beforehand—your eye doctor will assess how your eyes look immediately after lens removal and proceed with measurements from there.
How Long Will the Fitting Take?
Set aside between 30 and 60 minutes for your appointment. This gives us time to evaluate your eyes, try on initial lenses, and take essential measurements. You won’t need to take a full day off work, but you may want to give yourself some flexibility just in case we run longer to get the best fit.
What Happens During the Scleral Lens Fitting?
The fitting process includes several steps:
- Initial Testing: We’ll begin with advanced automated instruments that measure the curvature and dimensions of the front surface of your eyes.
- Doctor Assessment: Next, Dr. Antoine will use a microscope and bright light to further assess your cornea’s shape and health.
- Lens Insertion: If you’ve never worn scleral lenses before, don’t worry. “We have special eye drops that make that part easier,” explains Dr. Antoine. These help insert the lenses smoothly and comfortably.
- Settle and Assess: Once in, the lenses will need to settle for 10–15 minutes. During this time, you’ll simply relax as we prepare to take more measurements on top of the lenses.
- Preview of Vision: While the lenses fitted during your appointment aren’t your final pair, you’ll get a good idea of how your vision will improve. “We use base lenses to start with... then we can show the patient how they would see with actual lenses,” says Dr. Antoine.
Importantly, your eyes will not be dilated during this exam, so there’s no need to arrange a ride. The drops used are for the fitting process—not for dilation.
Will It Be Comfortable?
One of the biggest concerns patients have is comfort. Traditional gas permeable lenses often feel too small or irritating. But scleral lenses are different.
“These lenses move an imperceptible amount to the patient,” Dr. Antoine says, “which is why they feel more comfortable.” Many patients find that they forget they’re even wearing them after the initial adjustment period.
You’ll get to feel what it’s like to wear them right there in the office. While it’s not the full experience you’ll have with your custom pair, you’ll walk away with a clear sense of what vision and comfort to expect.
How Many Appointments Will I Need?
Most patients need one to three follow-up visits after the initial fitting. These appointments are spaced out to allow time for your custom lenses to be ordered and, if needed, adjusted. Lenses typically arrive within one week.
If modifications are needed, they’re included in your care—Antoine Eye Care offers a global fee structure that covers these changes.
Schedule Your Eye Exam in St. Louis, Missouri
Whether you’ve been struggling with keratoconus or you're just exploring scleral lenses for the first time, our experienced team at Antoine Eye Care is here to help. We provide custom fittings and continued support so you can experience life with clear, comfortable vision.
We know scleral lenses can seem intimidating at first—but we’re here to make the process seamless. From your first fitting to final lens pickup, our goal is to provide the best care possible with minimal stress or confusion.
Ready to take the next step? Call us at (314) 727-5610 or visit us inside LensCrafters at 1155 Saint Louis Galleria, St. Louis, MO 63117.