A recent analysis of scleral lens wearers during the first six months of lens wear found that intraocular pressure (IOP) measured following lens removal did not vary significantly. Also, the central corneal thickness and the central post-lens fluid reservoir remained stable and experienced minimal changes throughout the first six months of lens wear.

The study assessed 32 new scleral lens wearers and measured IOP before and after one and six months of lens wear. Although the researchers observed 1% to 2% corneal edema in healthy and keratoconic eyes following short-term lens wear, central corneal thickness was stable. The researchers attribute this to the study methodology, which allowed several minutes for the cornea to recover following lens wear.

The researchers believe further research that uses pneumotonometry or transpalpebral tonometry would determine whether IOP varies during lens wear following removal as well as after longer-term lens wear due to suction forces or tissue compression beneath the landing zone. They also suggest further studies use imaging techniques to assess alterations in optic nerve head morphology as an alternative approach to determine if IOP is significantly elevated during lens wear.