Ultra-widefield imaging is a useful adjunct for documentation of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and their postoperative repair. However, detection of retinal holes, tears, and postoperative scarring is poor, especially in the inferior and superior periphery.

Purpose To determine if long-term wear of a fluid-filled scleral lens alters basal tear production, corneal sensation, corneal nerve density and corneal nerve morphology in two disease categories. Methods Patients recruited from the Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) treatment program at Weill Cornell Medical College were categorized into two groups: distorted corneas (DC) or ocular surface disease (OSD). We measured tear production, central corneal sensation, sub-basal nerve density and tortuosity, and stromal nerve thickness before and after long-term wear of the prosthetic device used in PROSE treatment, defined as at least 60 days of wear for a minimum of eight hours a day. Results Twenty patients were included in the study. After long-term wear of the prosthetic device, tear production decreased in patients with DC (21.2±8.5 mm to 10.4±4.6 mm; P < 0.0001), but did not change in patients with OSD (7.5±5.2 mm to 8.7±7.2 mm; P = 0.71). Corneal sensation increased in the DC group (45.6±9.2 mm to 55.0±5.6 mm; P < 0.05). There was no significant change in sensation in patients with OSD (45.0±8.7 mm to 49.1±14.8 mm; P = 0.37). Sub-basal nerve density, sub-basal nerve tortuosity, and stromal nerve thickness remained unchanged in both DC and OSD groups after long-term wear (P > 0.05) Conclusions Patients with DC had significantly reduced basal tear production and increased corneal sensation after long-term wear of the scleral lens, but patients with OSD did not show any changes in tear production or corneal sensation.