Results of application of the optimal scheme of the developed method of treatment and rehabilitation of patients with delayed epithelialization of the cornea/corneal transplant using scleral contact lenses
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the optimal regimen of the developed treatment and rehabilitation method in patients with delayed corneal/corneal transplant epithelialization based on the use of scleral contact lenses in combination with tear replacement therapy. Material and methods. The study was based on the analysis of 149 patients (149 eyes) with progressive aseptic melting or delayed epithelialization of the cornea/corneal graft of multifactorial etiology. The patients’ age ranged from 18 to 89 years. Patients in the main group (n=48) were treated with a scleral contact lens (SCL) in combination with tear replacement therapy. Patients in control group No. 1 (n=50) were treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Patients in control group No. 2 (n=51) were treated with a soft bandage contact lens (ВCL). The groups were divided into subgroup A, with pathology of the native cornea, and subgroup B, with pathology of the corneal gr aft. The observation period was 18 months. Results. The term of corneal epithelialization in the main group (SCL) was characteristic of clinical manifestations than in the control groups (PRP and ВCL) (p<0.05). Complete epithelialization of the corneal defect/corneal graft and improvement of best-corrected visual acuity: in the main group in 95.7% of cases in subgroup 1A and in 96% in subgroup 1B; in control group No. 1 — in 66.7% in subgroup 2A and in 65.4% in subgroup 2B; in control group No. 2 — in 63% in subgroup 3A and 62.5% in subgroup 3B. Healing of the rotor without continuation in the main group was a characteristic sign higher than in the control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion. The application of the developed method using scleral contact lenses in combination with tear replacement therapy made it possible to achieve treatment effectiveness in 95.7% and 96% of cases in subgroups 1A and 2A, respectively. The safety of the developed method has been proven: corneal sutures are preserved, and negative vacuum pressure is not affected, even in cases of significant corneal stromal/corneal graft thinning. The complication rate in patients in the study group using SCL was 7.7–9.4 times lower than i n the control groups using PRP and ВCL. Keywords: delayed epithelialization, corneal melting, keratomalacia, persistent epithelial defect, sterile corneal ulcer, corneal perforation, scleral contact lenses.
Source: POINT OF VIEW EAST – WEST
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204913499