Clinical Scorecard: GP and Custom Soft Annual Report 2025
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | Corneal irregularity and other ocular surface conditions requiring specialty contact lenses |
| Key Mechanisms | Use of gas permeable (GP) lenses including scleral, corneal, hybrid, and orthokeratology lenses with advancements in oxygen permeability and custom fitting technologies |
| Target Population | Patients with corneal irregularity, presbyopia, myopia management needs, and those requiring specialty contact lenses |
| Care Setting | Optometry and ophthalmology practices fitting specialty contact lenses |
Key Highlights
- Scleral lenses are increasingly preferred, comprising over 50% of GP lens fits for 27% of practitioners in 2025, up from 13% in 2023.
- Diagnostic fitting with various haptic designs (spherical, toric, quadrant-specific) is used by 86% of practitioners to customize scleral lenses.
- Technological advances such as profilometry and wavefront-guided lens design are enhancing fitting precision and correction of higher-order aberrations.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Assess corneal shape and irregularity using diagnostic lens fitting and ocular contour mapping technologies.
- Utilize profilometry to aid in scleral lens fitting and customize lens haptics to match scleral shape.
Management
- Fit scleral lenses preferentially for corneal irregularity, with an average of 53% of such patients receiving scleral lenses.
- Employ diagnostic lens sets with spherical, toric, or quadrant-specific haptics to optimize fit.
- Educate patients about the likelihood of midday fogging and the need for periodic lens removal and refilling during wear.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor for midday fogging, which occurs in up to 58% of scleral lens wearers, and adjust fitting or care regimens accordingly.
- Evaluate visual quality improvements, including correction of higher-order aberrations using wavefront-guided lenses.
Risks
- Midday fogging remains a common challenge without a universal solution; patients should be counseled on management strategies.
- No single lens or solution property eliminates fogging for all patients.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with corneal irregularity and other specialty lens needs
Scleral lenses are increasingly prescribed, with 27% of practitioners fitting them in over half of their GP lens cases; nonscleral GP lenses and hybrid lenses remain in use, and 20% of practitioners prescribe custom soft lenses for irregular corneas.
Clinical Best Practices
- Use diagnostic lens fitting rather than empirical fitting for scleral lenses to achieve better customization.
- Incorporate advanced technologies such as profilometry and wavefront aberrometry to improve lens fit and visual outcomes.
- Prepare patients for potential midday fogging and instruct on lens care and management during the day.
- Select lens haptics (spherical, toric, quadrant-specific) based on individual scleral shape for optimal comfort and fit.
References
- 2024 Contact Lens Market Data
- Scleral Lens Fitting Trends 2023-2025
- Wavefront-Guided Scleral Lens Correction
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