Pancorneal contact lens with a toric edge: a new concept in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether fitting a patient with keratoconus to a pancorneal toric rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lens leads to a change in corneal compression and improves the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and keratometry values.

METHODS

Thirty eyes with keratoconus were fitted with a newly designed pancorneal toric RGP contact lens. Each patient was examined at the time of enrollment and after having used the new contact lens for at least 2 months. Corneal topography was performed both times.

RESULTS

A change in corneal compression was noticed in 23 eyes (77%). Following the use of the pancorneal toric RGP contact lens, the average BCVA improved significantly (p=0.007), with a mean BCVA of 0.63 (SD 0.15) before and 0.70 (SD 0.18) after using the toric contact lens. No significant changes were seen in the mean vertical and horizontal K-values or the mean E-values.

CONCLUSIONS

While no significant measurable differences in K- and E-values were observed, fitting of a pancorneal toric RGP contact lens in keratoconus led to a marked improvement in visual acuity and a visible change in corneal compression.