What does scleral mean?
Scleral is an adjective meaning “relating to the sclera,” the tough, white outer covering of the eyeball. The word is especially common in ophthalmology, where it appears in terms such as “scleral buckle,” a silicone band used to support a weakened eye, and “scleral lens,” a large rigid contact lens that rests over the sclera while leaving the cornea untouched. Scleral is not normally used to describe a body structure by itself; it modifies another noun and identifies a connection with the white outer part of the eye. In clinical writing, the term is distinguished from “corneal,” which refers to the transparent central covering of the eye. Though specialized in everyday use, scleral is useful because it identifies the anatomical region behind many eye conditions and procedures.
adjectiveRelating to the sclera, the tough white outer covering of the eyeball.
- Relating to or affecting the sclera, the white outer covering of the eyeball.
"The surgeon fitted a silicone band to support the weakened eye in a scleral buckle procedure."
"A scleral contact lens was prescribed to protect the cornea following surgery."
"The examination revealed inflammation of the scleral tissue surrounding the eye."
The word “scleral” points to the eye's tough white outer coat—the part of the eyeball that gives the visible portion of the eye its color.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scleral come from?
The word is formed from scientific Latin sclera, the anatomical term for the white outer covering of the eyeball. Latin sclera comes from Greek sklēra, derived from sklēros, meaning “hard,” an apt description of the eye's firm white coat. English added the suffix -al to create the adjective “scleral,” while related terms such as “sclerotic” and “scleritis” continue to reflect the same Greek root.
How scleral is actually used
This is a specialized medical and ophthalmological term. It is most often used in expressions such as “scleral buckle” and “scleral lens,” and may contrast with terms referring to the cornea.
Easily confused with scleral
The sclera is the white outer covering of the eyeball, whereas scleral is an adjective describing something related to it.