Is my eye too damaged for lenses?

SJS eyes are exactly who this device was refined for; candidacy is judged on your map and surface, not the diagnosis alone.

Will a scleral lens make the dryness worse?

The opposite is the point — the reservoir keeps fluid against the cornea all wearing day.

Do you work with my cornea specialist?

Always — SJS care is a team sport, and records move both ways with your consent.

How does Stevens-Johnson syndrome affect the eyes?

SJS often affects the eyes during the illness, because it damages the body's mucous membranes, and the conjunctiva (the membrane over the white of the eye and inside the lids) is one of them. It can cause severe conjunctivitis, with irritation and redness, and damage the cornea, the clear front of the eye. Afterward, a small percentage of people develop chronic dryness or inflammation of the eyes, which can lead to light sensitivity and reduced vision. Less often, the cornea's outer layer breaks down or the eyelids turn inward.

Can Stevens-Johnson syndrome cause blindness?

It can affect sight, though lasting vision loss is uncommon. A small percentage of people develop chronic dryness or inflammation of the eyes after SJS, which can lead to light sensitivity and impaired vision, and the illness can also damage the cornea, the clear front of the eye. If you had SJS, have any new eye symptom checked promptly; sudden pain or a drop in vision needs same-day care.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brandon Cohenmehr, OD Last reviewed October 24, 2026

Scleral Lenses After Stevens-Johnson

For the surfaces that never got to forget.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency that ends — but its eye damage often doesn’t. Scarred lids, failed tear glands and a fragile cornea can mean years of pain and blur. A scleral lens addresses the aftermath directly: a liquid bandage worn all day, with the optics built in.

Book appointmentOr call 310-828-2010 Accepted insurance

The aftermath: Scarring, dryness, lid friction
The lens’s job: Shield + reservoir + optics
The fitting: Slower, gentler, staged
The payoff: Less pain, more usable day

Why sclerals fit this

Three problems, one device.

Friction: Scarred lids and misdirected lashes rake the cornea with every blink; the lens takes the hit instead.
Drought: SJS often destroys tear production; the saline bowl replaces what the glands no longer make, hour after hour.
Distortion: Surface scarring bends light unevenly; the lens front restores a clean optical path.
The SJS fitting: We approach these eyes gently: shorter first wears, closer follow-ups, designs refined around the most fragile zones, and coordination with your corneal specialist throughout.

Read: scleral lenses after Stevens-Johnson →

Measured hope

Not a cure. A very good day, repeatable.

Pain relief is the most consistent report
Vision gains depend on scar pattern; the trial lens tells the truth
Lens wear runs alongside, never instead of, your specialist’s care

Book an SJS lens consult

Common questions

Stevens-Johnson, answered.

Anything else, call the office at 310-828-2010.

SJS eyes are exactly who this device was refined for; candidacy is judged on your map and surface, not the diagnosis alone.
The opposite is the point — the reservoir keeps fluid against the cornea all wearing day.
Always — SJS care is a team sport, and records move both ways with your consent.
SJS often affects the eyes during the illness, because it damages the body's mucous membranes, and the conjunctiva (the membrane over the white of the eye and inside the lids) is one of them. It can cause severe conjunctivitis, with irritation and redness, and damage the cornea, the clear front of the eye. Afterward, a small percentage of people develop chronic dryness or inflammation of the eyes, which can lead to light sensitivity and reduced vision. Less often, the cornea's outer layer breaks down or the eyelids turn inward.
It can affect sight, though lasting vision loss is uncommon. A small percentage of people develop chronic dryness or inflammation of the eyes after SJS, which can lead to light sensitivity and impaired vision, and the illness can also damage the cornea, the clear front of the eye. If you had SJS, have any new eye symptom checked promptly; sudden pain or a drop in vision needs same-day care.

Stevens-Johnson near you

12222 Wilshire Blvd, on the Santa Monica border.

West Los Angeles Brentwood Santa Monica Westwood Beverly Hills Culver City Pacific Palisades West Hollywood Marina del Rey Newport Beach

Also consider

Next step

Years past SJS, still paying for it?

Bring your history; the mapping visit with our optometrists in Los Angeles shows what a shield-with-optics can give back.

Book a consult Or call 310-828-2010