Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lens for Visual Rehabilitation in Children Younger Than 12 Years With Penetrative Ocular Trauma

Objectives: To observe the clinical outcomes of visual rehabilitation using rigid gas-permeable contact lenses (RGPCLs) after penetrative ocular trauma in children younger than 12 years in China.Methods: Patients younger than 12 years with penetrative ocular trauma fitted with an RGPCL for visual rehabilitation from 2017 to 2021 were included. In the case cohort, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with spectacles was measured when the RGPCL was fitted, and the initial BCVA with RGPCL, and the BCVA at the last visit were compared.Results: Fifteen patients, aged 4 to 12 (mean 8.0 +/- 2.7) years, who wore an RGPCL for 7 to 53 (mean 20.3 +/- 15.7) months, were included. The BCVA was log of minimal angle of resolution 0.4 (0.2-0.7) with spectacles and 0.1 (0.1-0.2) for RGPCL at the initial visit, and 0.0 (0.0-0.1) for BCVA at the last visit, with a statistically significant difference between the three comparisons (P,0.001). Six of the 15 (40%) children abandoned wearing RGPCL because of discomfort and lens rejection (n=3, 50%), lens loss and inability to replace broken lens because of travel distances and epidemics (n=2, 33%), and cost (n=1, 17%).Conclusions: Although application is complicated and initial wearing comfort is poor, an RGPCL is still a beneficial, safe tool for postoperative visual rehabilitation in children with open ocular trauma.