Impact of Scleral Contact Lens Use on the Rate of Corneal Transplantation for Keratoconus

Purpose: To evaluate the association of scleral contact lens (SCL) use on the risk for keratoplasty for people with keratoconus. Methods: The electronic health records of patients receiving eye care at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center between August 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018, were reviewed. Patients with a diagnostic code of keratoconus or corneal ectasia, no previous history of keratoplasty, and for whom data were available for both eyes were included. Using a multivariable Cox regression model, associations between SCL use and keratoplasty were tested and adjusted for sociodemographic factors, maximum keratometry, and current contact lens (CL) use. Results: Two thousand eight hundred six eyes met the inclusion criteria. CL use in each eye was 36.2% with no CL, 7.2% soft, 33.9% rigid gas permeable (RGP), and 22.7% scleral. A total of 3.2% of eyes underwent keratoplasty. In the adjusted model, SCL or RGP CL use significantly lowered the hazard of undergoing keratoplasty (HR = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09-0.39, P < 0.0001 and HR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.52, P < 0.0001, respectively) when compared with no CL use. Factors associated with increased risk of keratoplasty were black race as compared to white (HR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.10-3.16, P = 0.02), younger age (HR = 0.92 per 5-year increment, 95% CI 0.86-0.99, P = 0.032), and lower socioeconomic status (HR = 1.08 per 5-point increase in the Area Deprivation Index, 95% CI 1.03-1.13, P = 0.0008). Keratoplasty was not associated with sex, insurance, or maximum keratometry. Conclusions: Physicians should maximize the use of scleral or RGP CL because patients who successfully use CL have almost one-fifth the risk of undergoing keratoplasty.

Automated summary

A study of 2806 eyes found that using scleral or rigid gas permeable contact lenses can significantly reduce the risk of keratoplasty, with patients who successfully use contact lenses having almost one-fifth the risk of undergoing keratoplasty.