Effect of Scleral Contact Lens Size and Duration of Wear on Intraocular Pressure

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of scleral lens size and the duration of wear on intraocular pressure (IOP) during lens wear.

Methods: Healthy adults were recruited for this prospective and randomized study. Intraocular pressure measurements were performed using a pneumotonometer. A block randomization was used to assign the order of scleral lens diameter of either 15.6 mm or 18.0 mm for 5-hr bilateral wear over a course of two visits. Scleral IOP (sIOP) was measured during the predetermined intervals, 1.25 hr apart, during the 5-hr scleral lens wear. Corneal IOP (cIOP) was measured before and after the scleral lens wear. The primary outcome measure was the mean change in sIOP from prelens insertion baseline.

Results: Corneal IOP unchanged after scleral lens removal compared with the baseline measurements ( P =0.878). Smaller and larger lenses introduced significantly higher sIOP at 2.5 hr after lens insertion with the mean (95% CI) increase of 1.16 (0.54, 1.78) mm Hg and 1.37 (0.76, 1.99) mm Hg, respectively. There was no difference in IOP change between the smaller and larger diameter lenses ( P =0.590).

Conclusions: Well-fitted scleral lenses do not result in clinically significant changes in intraocular pressure during 5-hr lens wear in young and healthy individuals.