Tears and scleral lenses
A scleral lens is a large rigid lens that rests on the white of your eye and vaults over the cornea, with a layer of saline trapped underneath. The edge sits snugly enough that very little tear fluid swaps in and out from under the lens during wear.[1]
That means when you cry, most of your tears flow over the front of the lens and the white of the eye around it, then down your face, just as they would without a lens. The fluid behind the lens, the part that keeps your cornea comfortable, is largely left alone.
Crying doesn’t wash a scleral lens out, and wearers don’t describe it damaging the lens. Many wearers say they’ve cried through films, weddings, and hard days with no problem at all.
What can go wrong, and how to avoid it
The trouble wearers describe comes less from tears and more from what we do while crying:
- Rubbing your eyes. It’s the instinct, but pressing or rubbing over a scleral lens can shift it, let in a bubble, or break the seal. Keep your hands away from your eyes.
- Wiping the lens. Tissues and paper can scratch lenses and leave lint behind. Dab the skin under and around your eyes instead.
- Makeup in the eye. Mascara or eyeliner washing into the eye can coat the lens and irritate the eye. See makeup and skin care.
Do
- Let tears run, and dab the skin around your eyes.
- Blink, or use a fitter-approved preservative-free drop, if vision smears.
- Remove, rinse, and refill if blur lingers after you stop.
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes or lenses.
Don’t
- Rub your eyes or press on your lids.
- Wipe the lens itself with a tissue, sleeve, or paper.
- Keep wearing a lens over an eye that hurts or stays red.
Blurry or foggy afterward
Some wearers notice their vision is hazy after crying. The usual reasons:
- A smeared front surface. Tears, mucus, and makeup can leave a film on the lens. A few blinks or a preservative-free drop often clears it.
- A bubble. If you rubbed or pressed on the eye, a bubble may have slipped under the lens. You’ll usually see a dark circle or a shimmering spot.
- Cloudy fluid behind the lens. If nothing you do from outside helps, the fluid behind the lens may need replacing.
For the last two, the fix is to take the lens out, rinse it, refill it with fresh sterile saline, and reinsert. See can you add saline after inserting a scleral lens? for why topping up in place doesn’t work, and midday fogging if haze is a regular thing.
What wearers say
Most wearers say crying with lenses in is a non-event: the lens stays put and vision is fine once the tears stop. Some find their lenses blur or fog after a long cry and plan to refill afterward. A few say that even watery eyes from wind or onions make their vision smear, and keep drops handy. Wearers also say, honestly, that the emotional side of living with an eye condition and a daily lens routine can bring on tears in its own right, especially early on. If that’s you, see living with scleral lenses.
What to ask your fitter
- Which drops can I use over my lenses if my vision smears?
- My lenses often fog after my eyes water. Is that worth looking into?
- Is it OK to remove and refill during the day if I need to?
Common questions
Can crying make my scleral lens fall out?
Wearers don't describe tears themselves pushing a lens out. The bigger risk is rubbing or pressing on your eyes while you cry, which can move the lens or break the seal. Keep your hands away from your eyes and dab the skin below them instead.
Why is my vision blurry after crying?
Tears and mucus can smear over the front of the lens, or a bubble may have slipped in if you rubbed your eye. Blinking or a preservative-free drop may clear it. If it doesn't, take the lens out, rinse it, refill with fresh saline, and reinsert.
Can I wipe my tears off the lens with a tissue?
No. Wearers report that tissues can scratch lenses and leave lint. Dab the tears from your cheeks and lid skin, and leave the lens alone.
My mascara ran into my eye while I was crying. What should I do?
If your eye feels gritty, irritated, or the lens is smeared, take the lens out, clean it as your fitter showed you, rinse your eye with sterile saline, and refill with fresh saline. Don't wear a lens over an eye that keeps hurting.
Living with scleral lenses makes me cry sometimes. Is that normal?
Many wearers say the learning curve, the routine, and the eye condition behind it can be emotionally hard, especially at first. You're not alone. It's worth telling your fitter if handling is a struggle, and talking to your doctor or a counselor if low mood is weighing on you.