Impact of Scleral Contact Lens Use on the Rate of Corneal Transplantation for Keratoconus

Purpose: To evaluate the association of scleral contact lens (SCL) use on the risk for keratoplasty for people with keratoconus. Methods: The electronic health records of patients receiving eye care at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center between August 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018, were reviewed. Patients with a diagnostic code of keratoconus or corneal ectasia, no previous history of keratoplasty, and for whom data were available for both eyes were included. Using a multivariable Cox regression model, associations between SCL use and keratoplasty were tested and adjusted for sociodemographic factors, maximum keratometry, and current contact lens (CL) use. Results: Two thousand eight hundred six eyes met the inclusion criteria. CL use in each eye was 36.2% with no CL, 7.2% soft, 33.9% rigid gas permeable (RGP), and 22.7% scleral. A total of 3.2% of eyes underwent keratoplasty. In the adjusted model, SCL or RGP CL use significantly lowered the hazard of undergoing keratoplasty (HR = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.39, P
Source: Cornea - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Clinical Science Source Type: research