Limbal-Rigid Contact Lens Wear for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Disorders: A Review

Abstract

:Recently, the prescription of large-diameter rigid gas-permeable contact lenses (CLs), also known as “scleral lenses,” “corneoscleral lenses,” and “limbal-rigid CLs,” is on the rise for the treatment of both moderate and severe ocular surface disorders (OSDs). Compared with scleral lenses, the diameter of limbal-rigid CLs is generally smaller, that is, a diameter ranging from 13.0 to 14.0 mm, and they are designed so that the peripheral edge bears on the limbus. The Suncon Kyoto-CS (Sun Contact Lens Co., Ltd.) is a novel limbal-rigid CL design with multistep curves on the peripheral edge for easy tear exchange during blinking that removes debris and prevents lens clouding or fogging, thus allowing patients to enjoy a longer daily duration of CL wear. In severe OSD cases, limbal-rigid CL wear after surgery is a noninvasive therapeutic approach that can neutralize corneal irregularities, decrease dry eye symptoms, prevent the progression or recurrence of symblepharon, and improve the patient's visual acuity and overall quality of life. Thus, surgeries such as amniotic membrane transplantation and cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation, as well as limbal-rigid CL wear, which is noninvasive, are valuable and effective treatment strategies that can now be applied for the management of patients afflicted with severe OSDs.

Long-Term Benefits of Tear Exchangeable Limbal-Rigid Contact Lens Wear Therapy in Stevens–Johnson Syndrome Cases

“…Moreover, and unlike scleral CLs, the limbal-rigid CL is designed so that tears can easily and continuously be exchanged by blinking, so it can be worn all day. [31][32][33] Therefore, it was possible to protect and retain water on the ocular surface all day long. We theorize that this improved the chronic inflammation and lowered the conjunctival hyperemia score.…”

“…18–30 The SUNCON Kyoto-CS (Sun Contact Lens Co, Ltd, Kyoto, Japan) limbal-rigid CL was developed for the purpose of vision correction and tear retention in the chronic phase of SJS/TEN. 31–33 Similarly, scleral CLs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a special therapy for corneal disorders, 34,35 and large-diameter rigid scleral CLs have been used for the treatment of SJS/TEN-related ocular surface disorders. The SUNCON Kyoto-CS limbal-rigid CL is available in diameters ranging from 13.0 to 14.0 mm, which is a smaller diameter than that of scleral CLs, thus making it easier to wear in patients with small eyes and those with severe symblepharon adhesion.…”

Strategic combination of cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation and postoperative limbal-rigid contact lens-wear for end-stage ocular surface disease: a retrospective cohort study

“…After the size of the best-fit lens was determined, a subjective VA examination was performed and the lens was then accordingly prescribed. 21 …”

Erratum to Limbal-Rigid Contact Lens Wear for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Disorders: A Review

“…In the August issue of Eye & Contact Lens Science and Clinical Practice, in the article by Yulia A, Motohiro I, Mayumi U, Tsutomu I, et al “Limbal-Rigid Contact Lens Wear for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Disorders: A Review,” 1 the authors would like to revise the descriptions included in Figure 2. The location of the words “Flat” on the left side and “Tight” on the right side were positioned incorrectly.…”