Effects of multicurve RGP contact lens use on topographic changes in keratoconus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of wearing rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses on the topographic changes in keratoconus.


METHODS
Seventy-seven keratoconic eyes that wore multicurve RGP contact lenses and 30 keratoconic eyes that wore no contact lenses were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-ups were 22.6 and 20.5 months in the lens-wearing and control groups, respectively. Visual acuity, comfort, daily wearing time, and corneal staining were evaluated for both groups. The changes in topographic indices were compared between the lens-wearing and control groups.


RESULTS
Multicurve RGP lens corrected logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity of the lens-wearing group significantly improved from -0.016+/-0.065 to -0.032+/-0.10 at follow-up (p=0.05). In the lens-wearing group with advanced keratoconus, the Sim Kmax, Sim Kmin, apical power, astigmatic index, and anterior elevation significantly decreased from 57.68+/-4.26 diopter (D), 50.50+/-2.32 D, 62.79+/-5.11 D, 7.20+/-0.55 D and 67.36+/-16.30 microm to 55.51+/-4.28 D, 49.62+/-3.26 D, 60.31+/-5.41 D, 5.90+/-0.51 D and 60.61+/-16.09 microm, respectively (paired t-test, p<0.05). The irregularity index of 3 mm did not significantly change. Meanwhile, in the control group, the apical power and irregularity index increased from 55.56+/-7.25 D and 3.06+/-1.68 D to 57.11+/-7.75 D and 3.25+/-1.71 D, respectively (paired t-test, p=0.008, p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Properly fitted multicurve RGP contact lenses are not likely to contribute to the progression of keratoconus.
Hwang
Joon Seo
JS
Department of Ophthalmology, Haenam Genenral Hospital, Jeonnam, Korea.
Lee
Jin Hak
JH
Wee
Won Ryang
WR
Kim
Mee Kum
MK
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult