ClearKone-Synergeyes or rigid gas-permeable contact lens in keratoconic patients: a clinical decision.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), vision-related quality of life (VRQoL), comfort, foreign body sensation in the eye, tolerance, and handling of ClearKone-Synergeyes hybrid contact lenses and rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses in patients with keratoconus.

METHODS

This comparative case series was conducted between 2011 and 2012 on 40 keratoconic patients (20 in each group). The BCVA of each patient was evaluated on the same day when the lens was prescribed. The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) questionnaire was assessed in addition to other subjective criteria 2 months after the lens prescription.

RESULTS

The BCVA did not show a significant difference between the two lenses. Of the subjective criteria, the scores of the domains of general vision (P=0.008), ocular pain (P<0.001), distance activity (P=0.008), mental health (P<0.001), role difficulty (P<0.001), dependency (P=0.016), driving (P=0.067), total score of the NEI-VFQ 25 questionnaire (P<0.001), and comfort (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the ClearKone-Synergeyes group when compared with the RGP group. Foreign body sensation was statistically higher with RGP lens versus the ClearKone-Synergeyes lens (P=0.013). Regarding tolerance, the preference of the ClearKone-Synergeyes lens over the RGP lens was borderline (P=0.085).

CONCLUSION

Although the BCVA did not differ significantly between the two lenses and both corrected vision to the same extent, satisfaction and VRQoL was better in keratoconic patients who used the ClearKone-Synergeyes lens in comparison with the RGP lens.