[Possibilities of compensation of optical aberrations in keratoconus with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses].

The paper gives the results of a study of ocular optical aberrations in keratoconus. Objective aberrometry was carried out with OPD Scan (Nidek, Japan). An additional computer program (OPD station) was used to evaluate the corneal wavefront. Examinations were made before and after application of a rigid gas-permeable lens (RGPL) to the eye. For the functional evaluation of the effectiveness of contact correction, the investigators used visometry and determined binocular visual functions, contrast sensitivity, and visual productivity. A total of 87 subjects (174 eyes) with keratoconus were examined. Stage 1 disease was found in 48 eyes, Stage 2 in 49 eyes, Stage 3 in 37 eyes, and Stage 4 in 40 eyes. Analyzing the results of the study could evaluation the effectiveness of keratoconus correction with RGPL. The use of the latter presents a possibility of compensating for optical aberrations, achieving their reduction practically to the one level irrespective of the stage of keratoconus with a slight increase in Stage 4 disease. In Stages 1-3, the mean aberration values of each type have very close values (without statistically significant differences between them). In Stage 1 keratoconus, RGPL can completely compensate for high-order corneal aberrations (including coma, trefoil, and spherical aberrations). Normalization of the wavefront promotes the achievement of high functional results of contact correct of refraction disorders in keratoconus, by applying RGPL.