title: Scleral contact lenses may help where other modalities fail.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the vision-correcting and therapeutic benefits of gas-permeable scleral contact lenses (GP-ScCL) in the management of irregular corneal surface disorders and ocular surface diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 48 consecutive patients (66 eyes) whose management included the use of GP-ScCL were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common indication for fitting the lenses was keratoconus in patients who had to stop wearing other types of corneal lenses (44 eyes, 74.6%). Other indications included extreme corneal irregularity after penetrating keratoplasty, nonhealing corneal ulcer, postoperative dry eye syndrome following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), severe exposure keratitis and acid burn. Mean follow-up was 17 months (range, 2-96). Mean wearing time of the GP-ScCL was 16.2 hours per day (range, 3-18). Visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 90.9% of keratoconus patients and in 81.8% of postkeratoplasty patients. A gain of two or more Snellen lines was observed in 94.5% of eyes treated for improving vision. Marked subjective improvement in quality of life was reported by 86% of the patients, mainly as a result of improvement in their visual function and reduction in discomfort. Five patients (seven eyes) failed to wear GP-ScCL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GP-ScCL can provide successful and safe visual and therapeutic solutions for ocular conditions when conventional contact lenses and medical treatment have failed and where surgery is undesirable or contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Opthalmology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. orisegal@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barkana
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hourovitz
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behrman
authors.forename: Yifaa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamun
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Avni
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zadok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000628:therapy; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D019233:Retreatment; D012590:Sclera; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005740:Gases