Introduction to scleral contact lenses

^{Adolf Fick and Eugene Kalt}

While the current global contact lens market is largely dominated by soft contact lenses,¹ it is perhaps worth remembering that rigid contact designs typically offer greater levels of stability and visual accuracy, in addition to offering a cost-effective modality with improved margins of safety.²

This article will explore the history and development of fitting techniques of scleral contact lenses from the late 19th century pioneers to the technological advances of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, continuing into the 21st century, which has witnessed a pleasing renaissance – largely assisted by technological advances – of scleral contact lens fittings, which some might loosely term as a ‘novel’ or ‘niche’ products.