Visual performance and comfort with the Rose K lens for keratoconus.

Purpose: The "Rose K Lens for Keratoconus" is a proprietary rigid contact lens design that has been reported and marketed as a lens that provides better visual acuity and comfort than other rigid contact lens designs for keratoconus.

Methods: Twenty patients with keratoconus who were wearing rigid contact lenses were refitted into the Rose K lenses. Visual acuity measurements were taken with habitual lenses at the baseline visit and with the Rose K lenses at the completion of the study. Questionnaires were used to assess vision-specific quality of life, contact lens comfort, and self-reported assessment of vision.

Results: There were no statistically significant changes in high- or low-contrast visual acuity with the Rose K lenses. There was statistically significant improvement in self-reported assessment of vision and self-reported assessment of comfort in the eyes with more advanced keratoconus. At the conclusion of the study, 72% of patients preferred the Rose K lenses over their habitual lenses, and 87% reported that they would continue wearing the Rose K lenses.

Conclusions: There was no difference in the visual acuity with the Rose K lenses compared with the patients' habitual lenses. Subjective assessment of vision and comfort indicate a statistical improvement for more advanced keratoconus with the Rose K lens. We could not rule out a placebo effect as a source of subjective improvement in vision and comfort. Nevertheless, the successful fit rate and patient preference demonstrate the usefulness of the Rose K lens in clinical practice.