1. MUHAMMAD KASHIF - PhD Candidate Faculty of Sciences, Lincoln University College, Malaysia.
2. MUTHULAKSHMI ALAGAN - Associate Professor, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
3. NISHA NAMBIAR - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the clinical and demographic profile of patients with keratoconus and assess visual outcomes with corneal gas permeable (GP) lenses. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Ophthalmology Department, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from November 2022 to November 2023 using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. All subjects diagnosed with keratoconus were identified using the modified Rabinowitz criteria. Detailed eye and visual assessments were performed using slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ETDRS, and a keratometer. Data on clinical and demographic profiles were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were performed with Jamovi version 2.3. Results: A total of 637 patients, aged 20.6±5.97 years, were included in the study, with a gender distribution of 71.7% male and 28.3% female. Clinical findings revealed Vogt’s striae in 16.8% of right eyes (RE) and 15.1% of left eyes(LE), Fleischer’s ring in 15.6% of RE and 16.6% of LE, and naked nerve fibers in 14.5% of RE and 14.6% of LE. No significant difference in visual acuity with RGP lenses between genders (p = 0.097), while a significant increase in visual acuity with RGP lenses was observed (p < 0.001). Significant association between the presence of Vogt’s striae in both eyes and a history of allergic conditions were observed (p = 0.032). Conclusion: Clinical findings were prevalent among all patients, and a statistically significant improvement was observed with GP lenses.
ETDRS, Visual Acuity, Keratoconus, Gas Permeable Lenses.