Profile and Performance of Rigid Gas Permeable and Scleral Lenses on Keratoconic Patients in the Developing Contact Lens Practice Settings

Purpose: To present the profile of keratoconic contact lens wearers, alongside with performance of corneal and scleral rigid gas permeable (RGP) at different stages of keratoconus based on limited diagnostic resources. Methods: 5-year Clinical records of keratoconic corneal and scleral RGP contact lens wearers were retrieved. Data on age, gender, visual acuity (VA), refraction (RE), stage of keratoconus and mode of correction among other variables were obtained for analysis. Information pertaining to the outcome in pre and post-fit at different severity was determined. Results: A total of 124 medical records were analyzed, with the age (20.86 ± 9.50 years), gender (58.9% male and 41.1% female), Laterality (57.3% bilateral, 26.6% right eye and left eye as 16.1%) and ethnicity (91.1% Africans and 8.9% Asians). There were no significant differences in effects of lenses (RGP and Scleral lenses) across three stages in visual acuity and in three stages of severity HRGP (2) = 1.05, p = 0.59; HScleral (1) = 2.24, p = 0.134. Similar non-significant effect was observed in refractive error correction HRGP (2) = 1.62, p = 0.44: HScleral (1) = 1.143, p = 0.285. Conclusion: The profile of KC contact lens wearer was comparable to other studies in developing setting. Keratoconic grading should be based on available resources. Corneal rigid gas permeable and scleral lenses were beneficial to keratoconic patients in respect of refractive error correction and visual improvement to keratoconic patient.