Scleral Contact Lens to Preserve a Corneal Graft in Chronic Lagophthalmos

Turk J Ophthalmol. 2024 Apr 19;54(2):103-107. doi: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2024.68253.

Abstract

Facial burns involving the periorbital region may lead to cicatricial ectropion and lagophthalmos, causing severe exposure keratopathy and eventually blindness if uncorrected. In these patients, it is critical to provide aesthetic and functional surgical correction to protect the ocular surface from chronic desiccation in addition to visual rehabilitation. Conventional methods may not be sufficient to provide visual rehabilitation in complex cases. Scleral lenses can be a multipurpose alternative for these patients. Herein, we present the challenging case of a patient who developed cicatricial lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy after facial transplantation due to gasoline burns and received a scleral contact lens for visual rehabilitation.

Keywords: Cicatricial lagophthalmos; ectropion; exposure keratopathy; facial burn; scleral contact lens.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Burns, Chemical / complications
  • Burns, Chemical / surgery
  • Chronic Disease
  • Contact Lenses*
  • Corneal Transplantation / methods
  • Eye Burns / complications
  • Eye Burns / diagnosis
  • Eye Burns / surgery
  • Eyelid Diseases / etiology
  • Eyelid Diseases / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lagophthalmos
  • Male
  • Sclera* / surgery
  • Visual Acuity