AIM: To evaluate the effect of rigid gas permeable contact lens(RGP)in correcting high myopia and astigmatism.

METHODS: Forty-one patients(65 eyes)with myopia(-9.03±6.19DS, maximum -23.00DS)and astigmatism(-1.41±1.32DC, maximum -5.50DC)were fitted with RGP after strict routine ophthalmological examination, objective refraction and subjective refraction. All these patients were followed after 1wk, 1, 3mo and half one year.

RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes were fitted with RGP(-9.92±5.96DS). RGP base curve(BC)was majorly located within the range 7.20～8.25mm. 46.2% eyes with RGP achieved 1.0(BCVA)and 80.1% achieved above 0.6(BCVA). However, with spectacles, the percent was 28%(1.0)and 60%(>0.6), respectively. BCVA of RGP was 0.81±0.22, but BCVA with spectacles was 0.66±0.28, there was statistical significance(P<0.01). There were 40 eyes(62%)fitted with RGP whose vision were enhanced more than 1 line, 24 eyes(37%)whose vision were not changed and 1 eye(2%)whose vision were dropped 1 line.

CONCLUSION: RGP effectively improves visual acuity of high myopia and astigmatism compared with spectacles.