Case series: Extended wear of rigid gas permeable scleral contact lenses for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects

Objectives: To report the successful treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects that failed to respond to alternative treatment methods using extended wear of three different rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses. Methods: Eight eyes of eight patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects were treated with Blanchard Onefit 2.0 Scleral lens, BostonSight Scleral lens, and BostonSight PROSE device and were observed for defect resolution and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity over the duration of treatment. Results: All eyes observed complete re-epithelialization with a mean time of 11.1 +/- 5.5 days. At the conclusion of the treatment, visual acuity improved in all but one patient. No complications were observed during treatment. Conclusions: Scleral lenses provide the corneal epithelium with hydration, oxygen permeation, and protection from mechanical forces; thereby facilitating healing of persistent corneal epithelial defects. This case series demonstrates the successful use of continuous wear scleral lenses in a number of patients for the treatment of persistent epithelial defects refractory to other interventions.