Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness and management of specialty soft contact lenses (SCLs) for treating aphakia in pediatric and adult patients, particularly in comparison to GP lenses.

Key Findings:

• SCLs provide comfort and ease of handling for aphakic patients.
• Pediatric patients benefit from SCLs, reducing the need for IOLs and improving visual outcomes significantly.
• Adult patients under 70 have high success rates with daily-wear SCLs, while those over 70 face significant challenges due to handling difficulties.
• Custom fitting and material choice are essential for effective management, impacting both comfort and visual outcomes.

Interpretation:

Specialty soft contact lenses are a viable management option for aphakia, offering significant benefits in comfort and visual outcomes, particularly in pediatric patients, emphasizing the need for individualized fitting.

Limitations:

• Handling difficulties in older adults limit the success of SCLs, which can lead to lower compliance and adverse outcomes.
• Frequent follow-ups are necessary for pediatric patients due to rapid eye growth, which can affect lens fit and vision development.

Conclusion:

When properly fitted and managed, specialty soft contact lenses can effectively restore vision in aphakic patients across all ages.

Sources:

• Am J Ophthalmol
• JAMA Ophthalmol
• Ophthalmology
• Cont Lens Anterior Eye
• Eye (Lond)
• Cont Lens Anterior Eye
• Arch Ophthalmol
• Optom Vis Sci
• Am J Optom Physiol Opt