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Peer-reviewed articles
2024
Qiu,S. X., Fadel,D., Hui,A.
Scleral Lenses for Managing Dry Eye Disease in the Absence of Corneal Irregularities: What Is the Current Evidence?
Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024;13(13):3838
[ Show Abstract ]
Scleral lenses (SLs) are large-diameter rigid contact lenses that are a mainstay treatment for eyes with corneal irregularities. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the role of managing dry eye disease (DED) with SLs, as many patients with DED have reported symptomatic relief with SL wear. The role of SLs for DED management when there are associated corneal irregularities is supported by individual case reports and studies. This has prompted practitioners to begin advocating using SLs in DED cases, even in the absence of associated corneal irregularities and other ocular surface diseases (OSDs). There have also been discussions on potentially placing SLs earlier in the treatment hierarchy of DED, where it currently sits at a more advanced level of intervention (Step 3) in the TFOS DEWS II Report. This review will present the currently available, albeit sparse, evidence that supports and suggests this practice, as well as ancillary evidence supporting the purported benefits of SL wear in DED. The advantages of SL wear, such as corneal healing, absence of tear evaporation and contact lens dehydration, and improved visual acuity with associated increased wear comfort, and how this will benefit DED patients will be explored. Conversely, the challenges associated with fitting SLs in DED patients, including increased midday fogging, poor wettability, and subjective patient satisfaction, will also be presented, as well as a discussion on the key considerations for SL fitting in this population. Overall, while more research is needed to support the use of SLs in DED patients without associated corneal irregularities and other forms of OSD, the use of these lenses may prove to have a potentially wider role given their reported ancillary benefits in these populations.
Professional Publications
2024
Qiu S. Fast Forward to the Future: The Rise of Empirical Fitting and Scleral Lens Customization Contact Lens Spectrum 2024;39, January/February: 36
2023
Qiu S. Fitting Multifocal Scleral Lenses for Unilateral Central Corneal Scar Contact Lens Spectrum 2023;38; October, Scleral and Specialty Contact Lens Case Reports: 18