A recent study found that the optical density of the post-lens fluid increases over time with miniscleral lens wear and has a negative impact on low-contrast visual acuity (VA).

Researchers evaluated 23 eyes of 13 keratoconus patients who were fit with a miniscleral lens. The team analyzed the lens fit, optical density changes, high- and low-contrast VA, subjective comfort and vision and overall satisfaction with the lens.

They discovered that the mean best-corrected high- and low-contrast VAs significantly improved with scleral lens use (0.8±0.1 and 1.3±0.2 vs. 0.4±0.2 and 1.2±0.2, respectively). Patients reported high scores for comfort, vision and overall satisfaction with the lens. However, the investigators noted that optical density significantly increased over time, and although high-contrast VA remained stable, low-contrast VA significantly decreased after two hours of lens wear.

“The removal of the scleral lens for cleaning and reinserting may be a practical approach to avoid any negative impact on VA with consideration to settling and the increased optical density in the post-lens tear layer,” the study authors concluded in their paper.