Scleral contact lenses provide acceptable visual acuity and comfort in patients with keratoconus, according to researchers evaluating the effect of these extra-large gas permeable (GP) lenses on people with the corneal condition.
In a report published in this month’s issue of Eye & Contact Lens, researchers Muriel M. Schornack, OD, and Sanjay Patel, MD, described the results of a study of 32 patients with keratoconus who were evaluated for scleral contact lens wear.
Of these, 12 patients (37.5 percent) decided not to be fitted with scleral lenses after an initial contact lens exam and consultation.
The remaining 20 patients (32 eyes) underwent the fitting process with Jupiter scleral contact lenses (Medlens Innovations, Front Royal, Va., and Essilor Contact Lenses, Inc., Dallas, Texas).
Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the keratoconic eyes prior to being fitted with the scleral lenses was 20/76, as tested on a standard eye chart. After being successfully fitted with the lenses, mean BCVA improved to 20/30.
One patient (two eyes) abandoned the fitting process because he needed cataract surgery. The remaining patients (95 percent) continued to wear the scleral lenses successfully over a follow-up period ranging from 3 to 32 months.
Scleral contact lenses differ from conventional gas permeable contacts in their size and design. Scleral lenses have a much larger diameter than regular GP lenses so they can vault over the entire clear front surface of the eye (cornea) to correct vision problems caused by severe corneal irregularities.
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