The effect of lens and fitting characteristics upon scleral lens centration

Abstract Purpose To quantify the impact of varying central fluid reservoir depth, lens thickness/mass and the addition of a peripheral fenestration upon scleral lens centration. Methods Ten young, healthy adults participated in a series of repeated‐measures experiments involving short‐term (90 min) open eye scleral lens wear. Scleral lens parameters (material, back optic zone radius, diameter, back vertex power and landing zone) were controlled across all experiments, and the central fluid reservoir depth (ranging from 144 to 726 μm), lens thickness (ranging from 150 to 1200 μm), lens mass (101–241 mg) and lens design (with or without a single 0.3 mm peripheral fenestration) were altered systematically. Scleral lens decentration was quantified using over‐topography maps. Results On average, scleral lens centration varied by <0.10 mm over 90 min of wear. Medium and high initial fluid reservoir conditions resulted in 0.17 mm more temporal and 0.55 mm more inferior lens decentration, compared to the low fluid reservoir depth ( p < 0.001). Changes in lens thickness or the addition of a peripheral fenestration did not cause clinically significant changes in centration (<0.10 mm on average) when controlling for fluid reservoir depth. Central fluid reservoir depth was the best predictor of horizontal and vertical lens decentration, explaining 62–73% of the observed variation, compared to 40–44% for lens thickness and mass. Conclusion Scleral lens decentration remained relatively stable over 90 min of lens wear. A greater initial central fluid reservoir depth resulted in significantly more lens decentration, particularly inferiorly. Large variations in lens thickness, mass or the addition of a single peripheral fenestration did not substantially affect lens centration.