Abstract:AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of Orbiflex K®(SwissLens SA, Prilly, Switzerland)contact lenses in the visual rehabilitation of patients with keratoconus at different disease stages.
METHODS: This study included 80 eyes of 52 patients who were admitted to the eye clinic of Dr. Lütfi K?rdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital between Nov. 2012 and Dec. 2013 with a diagnosis of keratoconus. All patients received a rigid contact lens prescription and were followed up for 12 months. The mean age of the patients was 26.1±6.9y(range:15-43y). The patients were grouped according to the Amsler-Krumeich classification and staging using their keratometric values. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), subjective refraction, corneal topography, keratometry, central corneal thickness measurements, and biomicroscopic examination were performed for all eyes before and after contact lens application.
RESULTS: The mean value of the flat meridian(K1)was 50.25±4.17 diopters(D), whereas the mean value of the vertical meridian(K2)was 53.82±4.81D. The mean K value was 52.03±4.42D. The mean UCVA was 1.31±0.21 logMAR(Snellen 0.05±0.04), and the mean BCVA while wearing spectacles and the contact lens were 0.79±0.33 logMAR(Snellen 0.21±0.17)and 0.05±0.08 logMAR(Snellen 0.91±0.13), respectively. Visual acuities were compared before and after contact lens application, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001). The mean line increases for stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 keratoconus groups were 5.18±1.38(range: 2-8), 5.86±1.79(range: 2-8), 6.32±2.16(range: 3-9), and 6.92±2.35(range: 3-9)lines, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Orbiflex K® lens provide significant visual improvement in patients with keratoconus at all stages of the disease.
