EVALUATION OF VISUAL PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT FOLLOWING MINI-SCLERAL LENS FITTING IN POST-KERATOPLASTY PATIENTS
Published 2026 - 30th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: FP05.09 | Type: Free Paper | DOI: 10.82333/savr-8p05
Authors: Ali Ayatollahi* 1 , Mohammad Hajiebrahimi 2 , Jahangir Ayatollahi 3 , Maryam Dashti 1
1Optometry,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran, Islamic Republic Of, 2Javadi eye hospital,Tehran,Iran, Islamic Republic Of, 3Ophthalmology,Yazd university of medical sciences,Yazd,Iran, Islamic Republic Of
Purpose
To evaluate the effectiveness of mini-scleral lenses in improving visual acuity and subjective comfort in patients who had previously undergone corneal transplantation.
Setting
This study was conducted in 2025 in Tehran, Iran.
Methods
This retrospective clinical study included 46 patients (58 eyes) who had undergone penetrating or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and were subsequently fitted with mini-scleral lenses at Ayatollahi Optometry Center. All patients underwent visual assessment including uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity before and after lens fitting. Subjective comfort and satisfaction were assessed using the Contact Lens User Experience (CLUE) questionnaire on a 0–100 scale. Lens fitting parameters including sagittal height, central clearance, and edge alignment were optimized for each patient. Follow-up evaluations were performed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after lens dispensing.
Results
The mean time between corneal transplantation and lens fitting was 24 ± 6 months. Corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 0.56 ± 0.22 logMAR to 0.12 ± 0.08 logMAR (p < 0.001). The mean overall CLUE comfort score was 86 ± 9, indicating high patient satisfaction. No major complications such as corneal edema, neovascularization, or graft decompensation were observed. The majority of patients (93%) continued regular lens wear.
Conclusion
Mini-scleral lenses provide substantial improvement in visual acuity and subjective comfort in post-keratoplasty patients, representing a safe and effective option for optical rehabilitation in irregular corneas following corneal transplantation.