Why it feels so hard
A scleral lens is bigger than any contact lens you’ve seen: about the size of a dime, filled to the brim with saline. You’re bringing it toward your open eye while every reflex you have says blink. Your hands feel clumsy, the saline spills, and the first attempts often miss.
None of that means you’re doing it wrong. It’s a skill, like learning to drive. Nobody is good at it on day one.
How long it takes to learn
The best long-term picture comes from a study that followed 95 scleral lens wearers for a full year.[1]
- The first time varies a lot. At the visit where people received their lenses, 36% could put one in correctly in under 15 minutes. But 13% needed more than an hour, and those were people coming from glasses, soft lenses, or no correction at all.[1]
- It gets easier. Among people who kept going, handling improved: the number of attempts it took to put the lens in and take it out dropped significantly over the year.[1]
- Most people stick with it. 73% were still wearing their lenses at 12 months.[1]
- Handling is the biggest reason people quit. Of the 27% who stopped, handling problems were the most common reason (35% of those who stopped), ahead of discomfort (19%).[1]
That last point is why this page exists. Most people who give up do so because insertion and removal feel impossible. Most people who push through the first few weeks get there.
What makes it easier
The full step-by-step is in how to insert a scleral lens. These are the habits that make the biggest difference.
Set up before you start. Pick a clean, well-lit spot with a flat mirror. Spread a paper towel on the counter and cover the sink drain. Wash with plain, non-moisturizing soap and dry your hands completely.
Don’t rush. Allow 30 to 45 minutes the first few times. Feeling late makes your hands shakier and your eye more reflexive.
Fill it to the brim. Fill the lens with preservative-free saline until it domes slightly above the rim. A full lens is what keeps bubbles out.
Get your face parallel to the floor. Look straight down into the mirror, with your chin tucked so your face is level, not tilted.
Hold both lids wide, at the lashes. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the upper and lower lids open, pressing at the lash line so they can’t slip. Keep both eyes open: it’s easier to keep the target eye steady.
Come up in one smooth motion. Bring the inserter straight up. The saline touches your eye first, which can feel cold and strange. Keep going until the lens settles, then pull the inserter straight back and blink.
Check every time. Shine a light at your eye in the mirror and look for a bubble. Cover the other eye and make sure your vision is clear. If the lens is uncomfortable right away, or you see a bubble or haze, take it out, refill, and try again.
Tools that can help
- An inserter with a hole in the bottom lets you see through the lens and line it up with your eye. Ask your fitter whether yours can be modified.
- An insertion stand holds the lens for you, so both hands are free to hold your lids open.
- A ring-style inserter worn on a finger suits some people better than a plunger-style tool.
What works is personal. If the tool you were given isn’t working for you after a couple of weeks, ask about the alternatives.
When to talk to your fitter
Bring it up at your follow-up, or sooner, if:
- you’re still taking more than a few attempts most mornings after two to three weeks
- you often get bubbles even when the lens is filled to the brim (this can point to the fit, which your fitter can change)
- the lens is uncomfortable the moment it goes in
A good fitter would much rather hear “I’m struggling” than lose you as a wearer.
Common questions
How long does it take to put in a scleral lens?
The first few times, plan on 30 to 45 minutes so you aren't rushing. In a one-year study, about a third of new wearers could put the lens in correctly in under 15 minutes at the visit where they received it, while some needed more than an hour. Most people get much faster with daily practice.
Can I hurt my eye putting the lens in?
The lens arrives on a cushion of saline and is designed to rest on the white of the eye, not the cornea. The bigger risks come from hygiene: unwashed hands, tap water, or the wrong saline. If the lens is uncomfortable right after it goes in, take it out and try again rather than leaving it.
What if I just can't do it?
Tell your fitter early. They can retrain you, suggest a different inserter or an insertion stand, or check whether something about the lens is making it harder. Handling problems were the most common reason people stopped wearing scleral lenses in one study, so they're worth raising, not hiding.
Does someone else have to put them in for me?
Most people learn to do it themselves. Some children, and people with limited hand strength or a tremor, have a parent or caregiver insert the lens. Ask your fitter to train that person too.