Who needs Rose-K lenses?
Rose-K lenses were designed by the scientist Dr Paul Rose. They are meant to be used for patients with irregular corneas who have compromised vision, particularly Keratoconus, scarred corneas etc.
In early stages, Keratoconus can be treated with glasses or contact lenses.
If in early stage, the patient maybe able to use soft contact lenses also. Once it starts progressing, a rigid small diameter contact lens maybe required. The routine rigid lenses called RGP are of poor oxygen permeability, fixed sizes and may scratch on the steep cornea compromising its health.
There now are advanced customizable contact lenses called Rose- K lenses. These are ordered from abroad and are made to fit the exact shape of the patient’s cornea. These are also rigid lenses, but better oxygen permeability and with customizable options, so that they snugly fit on the area of conical protrusion, providing a new surface for clear vision.
Any option apart from rose-k lenses for Keratoconus?
Rose-k Specialty Contact lenses are one of the best non-surgical options for patients with Keratoconus. Usually Keratoconus patients have poor vision with glasses because their cornea is irregular. These lenses sit on the conical protruding part and mask the irregularity, having a huge impact on improving their visual quality.
Types of Rose-K specialty contact lens
The regular Rose K lenses are small diameter and sit on the cornea (what appears as the black portion of the eye).
In advanced cases where the cornea is too steep, semi-scleral lenses are used which rest on the white portion of the eye. They are larger in diameter and hence have a special technique for insertion and removal.
Scleral Lens
These are highly specialized very large diameter lenses particularly meant for corneas with extensive damage. They form a new surface thereby providing good vision. They are also used for patients with Ocular surface disorders e.g. Advanced Dry Eye due to Stevens Johnson Syndrome. etc