Intraocular pressure following long-term scleral lens wear in Chinese eyes

Since the prevalence of glaucoma is greater in Asian populations, the purpose of this study was to investigate variations in intraocular pressure (IOP) following long-term scleral lens wear in Chinese eyes.

This prospective, observational clinical study included 60 Chinese participants with irregular corneas (irregular cornea group, ICG) and regular corneas (regular cornea group, RCG). Following a baseline examination and scleral lens fitting and dispensing, follow-up visits were conducted after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months of scleral lens wear. IOP was measured without the lens on eye using rebound tonometry (ICG) or non-contact tonometry (RCG).

In both the RCG and ICG, the mean IOP varied by < ± 0.3 mmHg across study visits (p > 0.05). A small number of participants (RCG n = 3, ICG n = 3, i.e. 10% of eyes) exhibited an IOP elevation of ≥ 2 mmHg from baseline across two consecutive study visits, including the final 3 month visit.

On average, IOP remained stable (mean changes < ± 0.3 mmHg) in Chinese participants with regular and irregular corneas following three months of scleral lens wear. Future long-term scleral lens studies examining changes in IOP with the lens in situ (e.g., using pneumotonometry), anterior chamber anatomy, or optic nerve parameters in Chinese populations are warranted given the higher prevalence of glaucoma in Asian eyes.