In aphakic children, timely management is critical for rehabilitating visual gain adequately. Researchers used data to review the mentioned background evaluating the long-term efficacy of scleral contact lenses. They collected data which recorded aphakic refraction and visual acuity, complications and compliance to lens wear based on the feedback given by the parents on every clinical visit.

The study results could be summarised as follows:

• 76% of cases, with final best corrected visual acuity or BCVA of 20/40 or better achieved in seventeen eyes, constituting 34%.
• The rate of amblyopia was 50%.
• 56 % of children developed Strabismus.
• Researchers recorded less favourable visual outcomes of 0.43 ± 0.4 LogMAR without Strabismus and 0.8 ± 0.5 LogMAR with Strabismus.
• During the follow-up period, No corneal infections were reported.
• Sixteen children had superficial punctate keratopathy as the main adverse effect on the ocular surface.
• 96 % of cases, including 48 children, displayed good Compliance, with two cases being the exception.
• Scleral lenses were tolerated well by all children.

Veronika Yehezkeli from the Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Medical Center, was the study's lead researcher.

The team said Scleral contact lenses are effective in aphakic children after lensectomy. They are suitable to be used long-term with good compliance with wear.

Further concluding, they clarified that they reported excellent visual outcomes in the study. Furthermore, adverse events were well-tolerable.

Further reading:

Yehezkeli, V., Hare, I., Moisseiev, E. et al. Assessment of long-term visual outcomes in aphakic children wearing scleral contact lenses. Eye 37, 421–426 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-01942-6