What “getting used to them” actually means
When people say they’re not used to their lenses yet, they usually mean one of three things.
Handling. Putting the lens in and taking it out. This is the part most new wearers find hardest, and the part that improves most with practice. See are scleral lenses hard to put in?
The feel. Noticing the lens on your eye, the cool feel of the saline, the edge when you look to the side. Many people are more aware of the lens at first. Pain is different: it isn’t something to adapt to. See do scleral lenses hurt?
The routine. Filling, inserting, checking, removing, cleaning, and keeping supplies on hand. It feels like a lot in week one and becomes a habit for most people.
These three don’t always move at the same speed. You might be comfortable in the lenses within days and still be slow at putting them in, or the other way round.
What the research shows
The clearest picture comes from a study that followed 95 scleral lens wearers for a full year, with check-ins at one, three, six, and twelve months.[1]
- Handling improved. Among people who kept wearing lenses, the number of attempts it took to put them in and take them out dropped significantly over the year.[1]
- Wearing time grew. In people new to scleral lenses, average wear rose from 9.8 to 11.1 hours a day, and from 5.1 to 5.6 days a week, between the one-month and twelve-month visits.[1]
- Most people kept going. 73% were still wearing their lenses at twelve months. 27% stopped, and none of those stopped because of an adverse event such as an infection.[1]
- Results differed by eye. 77% of people with irregular corneas, such as keratoconus, completed the year, compared with 58% of people with regular corneas.[1]
One more point from a different study: in a group of 120 veterans, people who stopped wearing scleral lenses did so a median of 5.2 months after their fitting.[2] Adjustment isn’t only a first-week question. Problems can show up or build over months, which is one reason follow-up visits matter even when things seem fine.
These are two single-center studies, and your own timeline will depend on your eyes, your condition, and your hands. But both point the same way: early weeks are the hardest, and skills keep improving with practice.
A realistic way to think about the first weeks
The first days. Expect handling to be slow. Practice at a calm time, not on a rushed workday morning. Allow 30 to 45 minutes so you’re not racing the clock. Do the three checks (light, vision, comfort) every time the lens goes in.
The first two to three weeks. This is when most of the learning happens. Practice every day, in the same spot, with the same setup. Follow your fitter’s wearing schedule exactly, even on days the lenses feel great. Keep notes: how many tries, how long, any bubbles, how your eyes felt at the end of the day.
After that. Use your follow-up to fine-tune. If handling still feels impossible, ask about other tools. If comfort, fogging, or vision bother you, those are often fit or care issues your fitter can change.
The step-by-step plan is in your first two weeks with scleral lenses, and the daily care steps are in the scleral lens daily routine.
What isn’t part of getting used to them
Some things are not adjustment, and waiting won’t fix them. Take the lens out and contact your eye doctor if you have pain, redness that’s getting worse, vision that stays worse after the lens is out, new light sensitivity, or discharge.
Other problems aren’t emergencies but are worth reporting rather than living with:
- a lens that’s uncomfortable the moment it goes in, even after refilling
- frequent bubbles even when the lens is filled to the brim
- vision that clouds over partway through the day
- a red ring around the eye after removal
- a lens that’s hard to remove most days
Each of these can point to something about the fit or the care routine, and each has fixes your fitter can try.
Why sticking with the schedule matters
It’s tempting to wear the lenses all day once they feel good. But a scleral lens can feel comfortable past the point that’s safe for your eyes, and your fitter sets your schedule based on how your eyes respond. Never sleep in them, not even for a nap. Build up only as fast as your fitter tells you to.
Common questions
How many hours a day can I wear scleral lenses at first?
Whatever your fitter tells you. Wearing schedules depend on your eyes and your condition, and many fitters build wearing time up gradually. Write the schedule down at your first visit so you don't have to guess.
Should I wear them longer if they feel comfortable?
No. A lens can feel fine past the point your fitter considers safe for you. Stick to the hours you were given until your fitter changes them.
Does it get easier to put them in?
For most people who keep practicing, yes. In a year-long study, the number of attempts it took to put lenses in and take them out dropped significantly over the year among people who kept wearing them.
When should I tell my fitter it isn't working?
Any time something hurts, and at your follow-up if handling, comfort, fogging, or vision still bother you after two to three weeks of daily practice. Don't wait for a scheduled visit to report pain or worsening vision.