Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
Patient comfort and visual outcomes of mini-scleral contact lenses
Peng Yan1, Mustafa Kapasi1, Ronan Conlon1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Regenerative Medicine Program, Vision Research Centre, Ottawa Canada and University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Canada.
Objective:
To evaluate short-term visual outcome, patient acceptance, and tolerance of mini-scleral contact lenses (SCLs) in the management of various corneal pathologies.
Design:
Retrospective case series.
Participants:
Thirty-two patients (40 eyes) who received mini-SCLs.
Methods:
Single-centre retrospective case series, between February 2010 and January 2013, of 32 patients (40 eyes) with various corneal pathologies who were offered either Maxim 5R, Maxim 7, or Maxim 7 × 11 mini-SCLs for nonsurgical optimization of visual correction. Patients were followed up at 1 and 3 months for assessment of best-corrected visual acuity, comfort, length of daily wear, and complications.
Results:
Thirty-two patients (40 eyes), with a mean age of 41 ± 16 years, opted to receive mini-SCLs. Eighteen patients had previously undergone surgery such as penetrating keratoplasty, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, and intraocular lens implantation. The median best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.3 logMAR (range 0-1.3) before mini-SCLs, to 0.05 logMAR (range 0-1) with mini-SCLs (p < 0.0001). At 1-month follow-up, the median length of wear was 10 hours/day (range 1.5-15). At 3-month follow-up, the median length of wear was 12 hours/day (range 2-15). All eyes were comfortable at initial use of mini-SCLs and 91% were comfortable at 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion:
Mini-SCLs may be a comfortable management option for patients with keratoconus and other corneal pathologies who are unable to achieve adequate visual outcome with traditional spectacles or rigid gas-permeable contact lenses.
