Scleral rigid contact lenses in vision rehabilitation of pediatric patients with injury-related corneal scarring

Eye injuries in children are one of the leading causes of blindness and early disability associated with developmental delay. Scleral rigid contact lenses represent an effective method of vision correction in patients with corneal irregularities. Scleral lenses improve visual acuity and reduce aberrations by providing a more regular anterior corneal surface with the aqueous layer forming between the lens and the cornea. AIM: To study the specifics of correction with personalized scleral rigid contact lenses in vision rehabilitation in pediatric patients with injury-related corneal scarring. RESULTS: The paper presents with case reports in which personalized scleral rigid contact lenses were required to be fitted for children with injury-related corneal scarring. The ophthalmological examination included visometry, autorefractometry, biomicroscopy, Scheimpflug imaging with Galilei G6, optical coherence tomography of the cornea with Anterion, and aberrometry with OPD-Scan III. In all cases, the scleral lenses were fitted with a personalized approach. Highly positive refractory and vision outcomes were obtained. All patients were more than satisfied with the functional outcomes, tolerability, and adaptation to the lenses. CONCLUSION: Scleral lenses may be used in pediatric patients with injury-related corneal scarring in order to improve vision functions, reduce aberrations, and restore binocular vision. In most cases, this method of contact correction is the only one to achieve better vision acuity in children with injury-related corneal scarring.