AAOpt 2025: The art and science of scleral lens fitting

Brooke Messer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, a practitioner from Vance Thompson Vision in West Fargo, North Dakota, and her colleague Tiffany Andrzejewski, OD, FAAO, from Chicago Cornea, combined their extensive experience of approximately 5000 scleral lens fittings to share insights and best practices. Their presentation focused on helping providers understand and address patient discomfort and contact lens fitting challenges. With a comprehensive list of tips, they aim to improve patient experience and clinic efficiency in scleral lens fitting. For practitioners new to scleral lens fitting, Messer offers key recommendations:

• Attend professional meetings, specifically the International Congress of Scleral Contacts and Global Specialty Lens Symposium.
• These meetings provide advanced courses on complex scleral lens fitting techniques, basic training opportunities, networking with experienced professionals, and exhibit hall interactions.
• Seek mentorship within the specialty contact lens community.

Messer emphasized the collaborative nature of the specialty contact lens world, highlighting that professionals are eager to mentor and support each other. The meetings offer multiple learning opportunities, including classroom sessions, exhibit hall interactions, and direct professional connections. The overall goal is to help practitioners develop skills, understand nuanced fitting techniques, and improve patient outcomes in scleral lens fitting. By connecting with experienced professionals and continuously learning, new practitioners can effectively integrate these specialized contact lenses into their practice.