Corneal Response to Scleral Contact Lens Wear in Keratoconus

• Published in: Eye & contact lens Vol. 48; no. 8; pp. 322 - 327
• Main Authors: Cagliari, Cristina, Schor, Paulo, Formentin, Luiz, Lipener, César, dos Santos, Myrna Serapião, Oliveira, Helena, Raulino Junior, José Ney de Carvalho, de Freitas, Denise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice 01-08-2022
• ISSN: 1542-2321; 1542-233X
• DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000899

OBJECTIVETo verify corneal alterations in patients with keratoconus who wear scleral contact lenses (ScCLs), focusing on corneal endothelial assessment. METHODSScleral contact lenses were fitted in 22 patients with keratoconus. During a 90-day follow-up, patients were assessed in three visits: at baseline, after 30 days, and after 90 days. Patients underwent visual acuity measurement, slitlamp biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, specular microscopy of the corneal endothelium, corneal pachymetry, measurement of the clearance between the cornea and the lens, and follow-up of ectasia. RESULTSVariables related to endothelial morphology and pachymetry values did not change significantly over time. Central clearance measurements decreased in the 90-day period. No progression of corneal ectasia was observed, neither were infectious or inflammatory processes in the same period. CONCLUSIONDaily wear of ScCLs in patients with keratoconus was not associated with adverse effects on the cornea or endothelium over a period of 90 days nor was there evidence of disease progression. Central clearance values diminished over that period, but the significance of this observation remains unclear.