Which type of contact lens covers the entire front of the eye?

The scleral type of contact lens is designed specifically to cover the entire front surface of the eye, including the sclera, which is the white part of the eye. This type of lens is larger in diameter compared to other types and vaults over the cornea, allowing a tear-filled space between the lens and the cornea. This design not only provides comfort for individuals with irregular corneas or conditions like keratoconus but also helps to protect the cornea from exposure and irritation.

Soft contact lenses, on the other hand, generally cover the cornea but do not extend over the sclera in the same way that scleral lenses do. Rigid gas permeable lenses still fit over the cornea and do not cover the sclera, offering a different type of vision correction and comfort compared to scleral lenses. Hybrid contact lenses combine features of both soft and rigid gas permeable lenses but also do not cover the entire front of the eye like a scleral lens does.