Demographic profile and visual rehabilitation of patients with keratoconus attending contact lens clinic at a tertiary eye care centre

ObjectiveTo assess demographic profile and functional outcomes of patients with keratoconus attending contact lens clinic at a tertiary eye care centre.Materials and methodsRetrospective analysis of 77 patients (142 eyes) diagnosed with keratoconus attending contact lens clinic at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, from January 2008 to December 2008 was done. Data on age, gender, slit lamp examination, keratometry, topography, visual acuity with log MAR conversion, degree of visual success, type of contact lens and fitting characteristics were obtained.ResultsOne hundred and forty-two eyes of 77 patients were analyzed of which 49 (63%) were males and 28 (37%) were females; their median age was 24 years (15–36 years). Keratoconus reading based on keratometry was done. Twenty eyes (14.4%) were diagnosed to have mild keratoconus, 51 eyes (36.7%) had moderate, 45(32.4%) had advanced and 23 eyes (16.6%) had severe keratoconus. 113 eyes (79.5%) were visually rehabilitated with RGP lenses while 29 eyes (20.4%) fitted best with Rose-K lenses and in 1 patient (0.1%) Boston scleral lens was given in both eyes. With contact lens wear, visual acuity improved to 6/9 (0.18 log MAR) or better in 91% (115 eyes) and 141 (99%) eyes improved to 6/18 (0.48 log MAR) or better.ConclusionWe found that in India keratoconus presents at an early age as compared to the western population. Contact lenses offer a good modality to delay the requirement for penetrating keratoplasty. Newer philosophies for fitting contact lenses and newer materials can help in decreasing the contact lenses intolerance which still remains the major indication for undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.