Impact of rigid gas-permeable contact lens on keratometric indices and corneal thickness of keratoconus eyes examined with anterior segment optical coherence tomography

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 7; p. e0270519
• Main Authors: Akiyama, Kaho, Ono, Takashi, Ishii, Hitoha, Chen, Lily Wei, Kitamoto, Kohdai, Toyono, Tetsuya, Yoshida, Junko, Aihara, Makoto, Miyai, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 08.07.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Astigmatism; Asymmetry; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Contact lenses; Cornea; Crosslinking; Decomposition; Earth Sciences; Evaluation; Harmonic analysis; Keratoconus; Medicine and Health Sciences; Observational studies; Optical Coherence Tomography; Patient outcomes; Patients; Permeability; Physical Sciences; Research and Analysis Methods; Segments; Statistical analysis; Thickness; Tomography; Topography; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270519

Purpose/Aim Detecting keratoconus (KC) progression helps determine the surgical indication for corneal cross-linking (CXL). This retrospective observational study aimed to examine changes in keratometric indices and corneal thickness in patients with KC who used rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Materials and methods This study involved 31 eyes (31 patients) diagnosed with KC. No patient had used RGP or any other type of contact lenses for at least 1 month. Corneal topographic data were obtained using three-dimensional anterior segment optical coherence tomography before and after >1 month of RGP lens use. Results The average and maximum keratometry values changed after using an RGP lens (-1.05 ± 1.92 D, p < 0.01 and -1.65 ± 4.20 D, p = 0.04, respectively); the spherical component of the anterior corneal surface became significantly smaller (p = 0.02). No change was observed in the central or thinnest corneal thickness values. Keratometric changes were greater in eyes with severe KC than in those with moderate KC (p = 0.014). Conclusions Keratometry and spherical components of the anterior corneal surface values decreased after RGP lens use; keratometric changes were greater in eyes with severe KC than in those with moderate KC. Corneal progression indices, including corneal thickness, posterior keratometry, and irregular astigmatism values, mostly remained unchanged. It is important to consider these findings when evaluating corneal topography of KC and preparing CXL.