Extended-wear rigid gas-permeable lenses show long-term viability in pediatric aphakia

Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses remain a viable long-term option for optical correction in pediatric aphakia, although the occurrence of corneal infiltrative events highlights the need for careful monitoring when lenses are worn overnight, according to a study.

The study included 73 children who underwent lensectomy and were managed with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses worn on a 7-day extended-wear schedule. Forty underwent bilateral procedures and 33 unilateral procedures. Median age at surgery was 19 weeks, with 5.5 years of follow-up.

Visual outcomes were better among children with bilateral aphakia than those with unilateral aphakia. Visual outcomes were significantly better in children with bilateral aphakia than in those with unilateral aphakia (median postoperative visual acuity logMAR 0.3 vs 1.1; P < 0.001).

Corneal infiltrative events affected 6 eyes (5.3%), occurring at a rate of 0.97 cases per 100 eye-years. All cases resolved with topical treatment, and no visually significant sequelae were reported.

At the final review, 63% of children continued to use rigid gas-permeable contact lenses as their primary aphakic correction. Secondary intraocular lens implantation was performed at a median age of 4.7 years.

Reference
Leeson L, Webber A, Barkley M, et al. Outcomes of rigid gas permeable contact lens correction in paediatric aphakia. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2026;49(4):102681. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2026.102681. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42241868.