Vision-Correction Effect of RGP Contact Lens in Patients With Corneal Opacity Following Repaired Corneal Perforations

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses in patients with corneal scar and opacity following repair of corneal perforations. Methods: A total of 10 eyes from 10 patients undergoing repair of corneal perforating injuries and fitted with RGP contact lenses were examined in the present study. The mean postoperative 3-month visual acuities, refraction, corneal topography, keratometry, best corrected visual acuities with spectacles and RGP lenses at an average of postoperative 3 months were evaluated. Results: Eight eyes had corneal opacities at the central and 2 eyes at the peripheral portion. Four patients had previous cataract surgery or cataract surgery with intraocular lens insertion due to traumatic cataract. The mean postoperative 3-month LogMAR visual acuity was 1.14 0.53. Corneal topography showed irregular astigmatism in all patients and the mean keratometric astigmatism was 4.03 4.06 diopters. The mean best corrected LogMAR visual acuities with spectacles was 0.91 0.64 and with the RGP contact lens was 0.25 0.35. A comparative analysis of improvement in visual acuity with the RGP contact lens over spectacle correction was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.005). Patients wore the lenses for more than 6 hours daily for the mean follow-up period (12.10 7.80 months). Conclusions: In patients with corneal scar and opacity following repair of corneal perforations, RGP contact lens fitting should be considered first before surgical corrections such as keratoplasty.