Before insertion

1. Prepare your tools for inserting a scleral lens, including a plunger (suction cup), mirror, saline, lens case, and solution.
2. Always wash your hands with soap.
3. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel or paper towel before touching the lenses.
4. Begin by inserting your right lens first.

Insertion with a plunger

1. Wet the tip of the plunger with saline.
2. Squeeze the plunger before placing the lens.
3. Place your scleral lens directly on top of the plunger and fill the lens with normal saline.
4. Look down at the mirror and tuck your chin into your chest; your nose should be perpendicular to the floor.
5. Grasp your upper lid with your free hand at the lid margin, pulling it up to the brow. Use the thumb of this hand (or the middle finger of the other hand) to pull the lower lid downward, opening the eye wide. Keep both eyes wide open while looking directly in the mirror.
6. Move the plunger toward your eyes without spilling the saline.
7. Place the scleral lens onto your eye. You will first feel the fluid, but then you need to gently push the lens onto the eye.
8. Release the lens from the suction device by completely squeezing the plunger.
9. The scleral lens is now released from the plunger and is on your eye. Keep squeezing as you bring the plunger away from your eye.
10. Close your eyes.

Video for insertion with a plunger (Minute at 1.10)

Insertion without a plunger

From : https://eyepeopleoptometry.com/scleral-lens-training/

1. Placing a mirror flat on the table in front of you will be helpful.
   Use two or three fingers (the tripod method) to keep the lens stable and flat as you place it in your eye.
2. Fill the lens with normal saline.
3. Grasp your upper lid with your free hand at the lid margin, pulling it up to the brow. Use the thumb of this hand (or the middle finger of the other hand) to pull the lower lid downward, opening the eye wide. Keep both eyes wide open while looking directly in the mirror.
4. Look downward toward the mirror.
5. Place the lens in your eye. As soon as you feel the saline against your eyeball, press gently and let go.
6. The scleral lens will attach to your eye. Repeat this process with the second lens.

Video for insertion without a plunger

Note : If your scleral lenses feel uncomfortable, it may be due to an air bubble trapped beneath the lens surface. You may need to remove the lens and reinsert it.

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Reference

• https://www.longislandvisioncare.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-inserting-removing-scleral-lenses/
• https://blanchardlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Handling-your-Blanchard-Scleral-Lenses.pdf