To evaluate optical quality and visual function in keratoconus patients corrected with RGP contact lenses and a novel special design of silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Twelve eyes of six patients with keratoconus were enrolled to experience a new soft contact lens (Soft-K) for keratoconus made of a silicone-hydrogel material and the outcomes were compared to the performance with gas permeable lenses and spectacles. The three situations were compared for monocular and binocular high (100%) and low contrast (10%) ETDRS LogMAR visual acuity and contrast sensitivity function (CSF).

On average, there was an improvement of more than two lines in visual acuity over spectacle correction and this is statistically significant for both gas permeable (GP) and Soft-K lens (p < 0.001). Visual acuity was not significantly different between GP and Soft-K lens for high contrast acuity but was slightly higher with GP lens for low contrast under binocular conditions. Monocular CSF showed a marked improvement with the Soft-K lens and GP, compared to spectacles correction, particularly for medium and high frequencies; conversely.

Soft-K silicone hydrogel soft contact lens produces a clinical and statistically significant improvement in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity function over spectacle correction.

González-Méijome JM, Peixoto-de- Matos SC, Queiros A, Jorge JM, Diaz-Rey A. Quality of Vision with Spectacles, Special Silicone Hydrogel and Gas Permeable Contact Lenses in Keratoconic Patients. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2013;2(2):56-59.