Hybrid contact lenses for visual management of patients after keratoplasty

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to report the outcomes of new‑generation hybrid contact lenses for visual rehabilitation of postkeratoplasty patients.

Materials and Methods: Twenty eyes of twenty postkeratoplasty patients were fitted with hybrid lenses. Each patient’s keratometric values, ocular surface irregularity indices, central corneal thickness (CCT), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),  spectacle‑corrected visual acuity, contact lens‑corrected visual acuity, contact lens fitting data, and contact lens daily wearing time were recorded. Follow‑up  examinations were performed at 1st week, 1st month, and 3rd month visit after successful fitting of the lenses.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.42 ± 4.89 years. The mean spherical component of refractive error was −4.46 ± 2.1 D, and the mean astigmatism was −5.31 ± 1.55 D. The median UCVA was 1.00 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) which improved to 0.40 logMAR after spectacle correction. The median visual acuity with hybrid contact lenses was 0.05 logMAR. The median CCT was 544.4 μm and increased to 549.2 μm at 3 months after contact lens wear. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.38). The mean follow‑up of patients was 4.32 ± 0.45 months. Eighteen of twenty patients reported a mean of 8.37 ± 1.95 h comfortable wearing time per day during this period. Two patients  discontinued contact lens wearing due to conjunctival hyperemia. No graft‑related complications such as decompensation, rejection, and infection were documented during the follow‑up period.

Conclusion: The new‑generation hybrid contact lenses can be considered helpful in the visual management of postcorneal graft patients, particularly who are unable to achieve an adequate visual outcome with spectacles.

Keywords: Contact lens complications, hybrid contact lens, irregular cornea, penetrating keratoplasty, postkeratoplasty astigmatism