Scleral lenses application for the correction of postkeratoplastic ametropia

Purpose. Analysis of clinical and functional results of correction of postkeratoplastic ametropia with rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses. Material and methods. Clinical and functional results of the correction of postkeratoplastic ametropia (PA) with rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses (RGSL) were analyzed based on a comprehensive examination of 25 eyes (25 patients). Of these, there were 16 men and 9 women. The mean age of the patients was 40±9 years. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.14±0.16, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with glasses was 0.44±0.25, the spherical refractive component was 1.37±2.58 D, the cylindrical refractive component was –4,75±1.68 D. The follow-up period was about 5 years. Results. After application of RGSL, all patients noted a significant improvement in visual acuity due to the correction of PA and an increase in the regularity of the corneal graft. There was a statistically significant increase in BCVA in RGSL up to 0.66±0.13 (p=0.0022), which remained stable throughout the entire observation period. BCVA in RGSL 0.5 and above was noted in 93% of the eyes. In all patients, after the selection of RGSL, a significant decrease in total corneal aberrations, including higher order ones, was noted. When calculating the cell density of the epithelium of the corneal graft on HRT III Cornea after 5 years of wearing RGSL, a decrease in the cell density of all layers of the epithelium was noted. The absence of endothelial cell density loss, clinically significant corneal graft edema, and reduction in the biomechanical properties of the corneal graft indicate the safety of long-term use of RGSL in patients after keratoplasty. Conclusion. Clinical and functional analysis of the correction of postkeratoplastic ametropia with rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses during 5 years of observation showed: higher rates of best corrected visual acuity compared to spectacle correction by an average of 0.22±0.05, a significant decrease in corneal aberrations, a decrease in the density of cells of all corneal graft epithelium layers, high optical efficiency, and safety of their use during the entire observation period. Key words: postkeratoplastic ametropia, rigid gas-permeable scleral lens, corneal graft