title: Clinical evaluation of rigid gas permeable contact lenses and visual outcome after repaired corneal laceration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical value of rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPCLs) in patients with traumatic corneal scarring and address implications of primary corneal repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects with a history of corneal laceration were fit with RGPCLs. Scar locations were divided into two zones; each patient was examined using Pentacam. Entering data included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), spectacle-corrected visual acuity (SVA), time between injury and RGPCL fitting, location and size of scar, and amount of corneal astigmatism. Follow-up data included RGPCL visual acuity (RGPCLVA), RGPCL-related complications, and dropout characteristics. Visual acuity values were converted to logMAR for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No serious complications occurred. The average time between suture removal and RGPCL fitting was 5.7±5.5 months. Average corneal astigmatism was -3.44±2.09 diopters. One subject had developed corneal ectasia. RGPCLVA was more than 0.1 in three subjects: one experienced primary corneal repair complications, and two subjects (<10 years) developed amblyopia. In both zones, the difference in RGPCLVA outcome between zone I and zone II was not statistically significant (F=0.060, P=0.809). The difference between SVA in zones I and II was found to be statistically significant (F=6.131, P=0.026), as were the differences between SVA and RGPCLVA (F=8.598, P=0.010). The scar size had no significant influence on RGPCLVA, SVA, or UCVA. Four participants (22.2%) were successfully fit. Dropout characteristics included ocular discomfort, inconvenience, parental apprehension, and low motivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rigid gas permeable contact lens is an ideal method for evaluating visual potential in patients with traumatic corneal astigmatism. Pentacam examinations of those patients with poor RGPCLVA can help an ophthalmologist find and understand existing problems in suture techniques.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Eye Hospital (B.Z., L.S., Z.Z., Y.C.), Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China; New England College of Optometry (M.K.W.), Boston, MA; Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences (J.Z.), Shanghai, China; and Hubei University of Science and Technology (Z.X.), Xianning, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Zongduan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhaoxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000592:standards*; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult