İleri Keratokonuslu Olgularda Kontakt Lens Uygulaması: Uzun Süreli Takip Sonuçlarımız

Pur po se: To evaluate the long-term results of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses in severe keratoconic eyes.\udMa te ri al and Met hod: Severe keratoconic eyes with RGP contact lenses were evaluated retrospectively.\udRe sults: Long-term follow-up results of RGP contact lenses applied to 59 eyes of 42 patients (25 women, 17 men) with a diagnosis\udof severe keratoconus were analyzed. Follow-up period was 3 to 12 years (mean: 6.57±3.60). The mean age at first exam was\ud25.88±9.10 years, the mean corneal curve K1 was 6.49±0.40 mm and K2 was 5.91±0.40 mm. Mean visual acuities with spectacles\udand contact lenses were 0.26±0.10 lines (0.63±0.20 logMAR) and 0.66±0.20 lines (0.20±0.10 logMAR), respectively. The difference\udbetween both visual acuities was statistically significant (p=0.0001). At the last visit, the mean visual acuity with RGP contact lenses\udwas 0.68±0.20 lines (0.19±0.10 logMAR). There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity between first and last\udexaminations with contact lenses (p=0.32). During the long-term follow-up period, apical scarring developed in 17 eyes. Only the 2\udeyes of one patient needed penetrating keratoplasty after 6 years of RGP contact lens use.\udDis cus si on: Use of RGP contact lenses should be considered before penetrating keratoplasty in cases of severe keratoconus. (Turk J\udOphthalmol 2012; 42: 202-6