A comparison of the visual acuity outcome between Clearkone and RGP lenses

PURPOSE: To compare the visual acuity outcome of the ClearKone SynergEyes™ hybrid contact lens and Boston XO rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens in patients with keratoconus. METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes with keratoconus participated in this study. The visual acuity was examined once with the RGP lens and once with the ClearKone SynergEyes™ hybrid contact lens. RESULTS: The mean corneal keratometry, the mean lens back optic zone radius, and the mean vault was 7.23 ± 0.62 mm, 7.67 ± 0.44 mm, and 277.94 ± 104.5 μm, respectively. Visual acuity was significantly better with the ClearKone SynergEyes™ hybrid lens (P = 0.004). The mean best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.022 ± 0.03 and 0.057 ± 0.09 for the ClearKone and RGP lens, respectively. The Clearkone lens yields an average improvement of one line of the Snellen chart in comparison with the RGP lens. CONCLUSION: The ClearKone hybrid contact lens and the RGP lens may improve visual acuity in corneal irregularities. But patients who are able to afford hybrid lens wearing may show better visual acuity.