How Much Saline to Fill a Scleral Lens? How to Avoid Bubbles & Discomfort when Filling your Sclerals
When inserting a scleral lens, we recommend filling the bowl of the lens completely until the saline forms a slight dome above the edge of the lens, as pictured in this video. Fun fact: we find that most scleral lenses can hold ~1mL of saline, depending on the size of the lens!
Why a full bowl matters:
Filling your lens completely is the single most important step to prevent air bubbles from getting trapped against your eye. A trapped air bubble creates a dry spot on your cornea that can cause irritation, blurred vision, and discomfort by the end of the day. The reservoir of fluid is what keeps your cornea hydrated and comfortable all day long, and the saline you put in the lens will be held against your eye for your entire wearing time.
What if my lens has fenestrations (small holes)?
Fenestrations are tiny holes in the lens that are sometimes added to:
– Improve oxygen transmission to the cornea
– Reduce lens suction
– Help with midday fogging or handling difficulties
Because these holes can allow fluid to pass through, you may not see a perfect “dome” of saline on top of the lens when filling. However, you should still fill the bowl as much as possible before insertion; the goal is to maximize the fluid reservoir for comfort and corneal protection.
Important:
Always fill your lens with preservative-free sterile saline only; we like Modudose/Addipak, Lacripure, or ScleralFil. Never use multipurpose solution or tap water to fill the bowl— multipurpose solutions contain preservatives that we do not want trapped against the cornea all day, as they can cause irritation and toxicity.
Quick tip: If you notice an air bubble after insertion, remove the lens, refill it completely, and reinsert. Bubbles don’t dissolve on their own!
Watch: See our YouTube video on filling your scleral lenses here!
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