Risk of Dry Eye in Keratoconus Patients Wearing Contact Lenses

Dry eye in keratoconus patients is one of the most important issues to pay attention to. This is because dry eye symptoms increase itching and discomfort in the eye. In addition, the patient becomes more prone to allergies and infections. As a result, the sensation of rubbing the eye increases. Rubbing or scratching the eye can lead to the progression and even development of Keratoconus. In conclusion, as mentioned above, patients with keratoconus should be more careful with dry eyes.

So, how much do the products we use as supportive during the disease process affect the formation of dry eye or do they? At this point, we will look for an answer to one of the curious questions. Does contact lens use cause dry eye in keratoconus patients? Let’s experience it together with scientific researches.

Contact Lens Wear, Keratoconus and Dry Eye Story

Scientific research published in the National Library of Medicine provides the answer to the question. The scientific study examined whether patients with keratoconus experience dry eye symptoms when wearing different types of contact lenses.

The study is based on a survey initiated by the National Keratoconus Foundation. The Foundation organized questionnaires for the participants identified by the study to share demographic information and details about the disease. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was completed.

In the study, which was completed with a total of 197 participants, care was taken to ensure that all participants wore the same type of contact lens in both eyes. The participants, whose average age was 47 years, were evaluated according to their OSDI scores and as a result, it was concluded that 90% of the participants had significant dry eye symptoms.

It was also noted that participants who wore only scleral lenses experienced less discomfort with dry eye symptoms than other lens wearers.

Tabulated Data Related to the Research

Conclusion

When the results of the study are evaluated, it is concluded that patients with Keratoconus can often show high dry eye symptoms, regardless of which contact lens they wear. This means that patients need to be extra careful when wearing contact lenses. It is also important to consult with specialists in this field to determine the best treatment solution.

Source

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8385958/