3. Introduction
‘Contact lens’ is a thin transparent lens made up of
different materials like PMMA, HEMA, Silicon –
Acrylic etc
First conceived by – Leonardo Da Vinci (1508)
Development
1. PMMA - 1940s
2. Hydrogel CL – 1960s
3. RGP – 1970s
Source: IACLE Module 2
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4. What is RGP lens??????
RGP lenses are those lenses made up of materials
which are permeable to oxygen.
They have inherent rigidity similar to PMMA, but
somehow due to their O2 permeability they have
become popular by the name semisoft lenses
Made up of polymers e.g. silicone resin, polystyrene,
polysulfone copolymer and butyl styrene
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5. Choice for RGP??????????
Better VA- astigmats & irregular astigmats
Only for some conditions – keratoconus , traumatised
corneas , post grafts etc
Better oxygen transmissibility and better retro lens
tear flow suitable for higher Rx
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6. Choice for RGP???????
Safer for extended-wear than hydrophilic lenses
For patient non- compliant with cleaning and
disinfectant procedures, no time to care
For patient who requires steroids and glaucoma
drugs because no absorption as in hydrophilic
In certain specialized area - orthokeratology
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7. Forces affecting lens
Tear meniscus
- Essential for lens centration
- Greater the lens circumference of the meniscus, the
better the centration
▪ Lid force and position
- Upper lid covers small portion of the lens holding the
lens in cornea and lid
- For some patients the lower lid is too high to rest
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8. Tear Lens power with RGP
Tear lens under a flexible lens is very thin and has no
power
Tear lens under a rigid lens depends on material
rigidity and the fitting relationship
If a rigid lens decentres, the tear lens will acquire a
prismatic component in addition to the spherical or
sphero-cylindrical optics dictated by the fitting
relationship.
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9. Decentration Induced Prism
When a rigid lens decentres, and is possibly tilted by
upper or lower lid pressures, a prismatic tear lens
may be induced under it.
In higher powered lenses, any induced tear prismatic
effect may be insignificant when compared with the
prism induced by the decentred optics
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11. Flat, Aligned and Steep RGP Fits
For steep cornea, the RGP lens will touch the tip of
the cornea with flat fitting and induce concave lens
like tear film
For aligned RGP as in case of normal corneal surface
the tear lens so formed will be aligned and will have
plane surface with nearly zero power
For flat cornea , the RGP lens will touch the two ends
of the cornea with steep fitting forming a convex tear
film
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13. Tear Lens Power with Rigid Lenses
Assumptions:
• nTears = 1.336
• nLens = 1.490
• nAir = 1.000
• r0 = 7.80 mm
– flatter = 7.85 mm
– steeper = 7.75 mm
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14. Contd…
TL front surface power (FSTears):
= (n’ – n)/r
= (1.336- 1.000)/ 0.0078
FSTears power = +43.076923 (BOZR = 7.80mm)
In flattening the BOZR by 0.005, BOZR = 7.85mm
FSTears power = +42.802548 (BOZR = 7.85mm)
∆ = +42.802548 – (+43.076923)
= - 0.274375 D
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15. Contd…
Flattening produces a – 0.274375D effect
To maintain the same back vertex power of the
system a compensating +0.274375 D must be added to
the BVPCL in air while ordering
Steepening the BOZR by 0.05mm, BOZR = 7.75mm
FSTears power = +43.354839 (BOZR = 7.75mm)
∆ =+43.354839 – (+43.076923)
= +.277916D
Steepening produces a +0.277916 D effect
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16. Contd…
To maintain the same BVP of the system a
compensating -0.277916 D must be added to the
BVPCL (in air) when ordering
Rule of thumb:
∆0.05mm in BOZR ≈ ∆0.25 D in the BVP required to offset
∆ in tear lens power
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17. Neutralisation of Astigmatism
Cornea/tears interface is optically insignificant
Tear lens is sphericalized by the back surface of a
spherical lens
This results in a major reduction of corneal
astigmatism with a spherical lens
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18. Spherical Cornea: Spherical
RGP
The tear lens has no
much optical role in case
of spherical surface of
cornea and spherical
back surface of RGP
contact lens
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Fig:Optimal edge width and adequate
clearance
19. Spherical Cornea: Toric RGP
In case of spherical surface of cornea and toric RGP
the back surface should be spherical in nature while
the front surface is toric
These lens are prescribed in the cases where the
astigmatism is not due to corneal surface but due to
lens
E.g astigmatism induced in cases of subluxation of
lens and dislocation of IOL after cataract surgery
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20. Astigmatic Cornea: Spherical RGP
The front surface of the tear lens is ‘sphericalized’ by
the back surface of the lens
The toric interface between tear lens and cornea has
its optical effectiveness significantly reduced.
It is usually difficult to fit spherical lenses on corneas
with 3.00 D of corneal astigmatism.
Some claim that 2.00 D is a more realistic upper limit.
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21. Neutralisation of corneal astigmatism
Assuming K readings of 8.00 mm and 7.60 mm
and the following refractive indices: ncornea = 1.376,
ntears = 1.336
Corneal powers in air:
D1 =(n’-n)/r1 = (1.376-1.000)/ 0.008
D1 = 47.00D
D2 = (n’-n)/r2 = (1.376 – 1.000)/0.0076
D2 = 49.47 D
Corneal astigmatism = D2 – D1 =2.47 D
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22. Contd…
Corneal power under tears:
D1 = (1.376 – 1.336)/ 0.008
D1 = 5.00D
D2 = (1.376 – 1.336)/ 0.0076
D2 = 5.26 D
Corneal astigmatism = D2 – D1
= 0.26 D
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23. Contd…
Astigmatism (in situ) / astigmatism (in air)
= 0.26/ 2.47
= 10.64%
● Rule of Thumb
Approximately 90% of corneal astigmatism is neutralized
by a spherical RGP lens
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24. RGP lens : Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a benign,
non inflammatory,
progressive central
corneal ectasia and
thinning resulting into
high irregular myopic
astigmatism with
observable structural
changes appearing in
later stage
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25. Corneal RGP CL
Two Fitting Philosophies
1. Apical bearing – OZ bears on cone
2. Apical clearance
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26. Apical bearing (Flat fit)
Larger diameter lenses
TD – 9.50 to 11.50 mm
Single back curve
KC cone touches central
cone apex
Lower edge stand away from
cornea
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27. Apical bearing (Flat fit)
Compress the cone
Corneal flattening /
Spherization
Superior visual
performance
Disadvantage
??Hastens the rate of
corneal scarring
(Sub-bowman’s
stroma)
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28. Apical clearance
Small diameter & thin
lenses (USA)
TD of 6.00 mm to 8.00
mm
BOZR – 5.00mm to 7.5
mm
With Two flatter
peripheral curves
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Text missing???????????
29. Apical clearance
• Advantage
– Less role on corneal scarring
– Well tolerated by atopic eye disease
• Disadvantage
– Optical
• Flare/monocular diplopia
– OZD is only 4 mm
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30. 3 point touch
Also known as ‘divided
support’
Most weight of the lens
is on almost normal
peripheral cornea
Central cornea is
supported by slight touch
Bearing is not heavy to
cause abrasion & scarring
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32. 3 point touch
Things to avoid
Peripheral fit too tight
causing sealing off the
tear exchange behind
optic zone
Excessive movement
that causes discomfort
and corneal scarring
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33. RGP lens : penetrating keratoplasty
Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is a surgical procedure
in which the host cornea is replaced with donor
cornea.
Corneal graft sizes typically range from 7.5 to 8.5
mm.
Sutures used to keep the graft in place can be
radially interrupted sutures or a single continuous
suture.
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34. RGP lens : penetrating keratoplasty
Typically we begin fitting 6 to 12 months after surgery
following removal of the sutures.
The epithelium is intact 4 days post-operative, but
the cornea as a whole may take 18 to 24 months for
complete healing.
The fitting process can begin as early as 3 months for
some patients who require contact lenses for
functional vision
Thus, it is best in most cases to wait at least 6
months before initiating contact lens treatment.
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35. Contd…
The main concern of post-PK fitting is to minimize
trauma to the corneal graft.
Typically, large diameter (9.5-12.0mm) RGP lenses are
prescribed to minimize bearing on the graft-host
interface and provide improved stability and
centration.
A large optic zone size will help to minimize glare.
RGP lenses offer excellent oxygen transmission and
have the ability to correct astigmatism and smooth
out irregular corneal surfaces.
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36. RGP lens: Radial Keratotomy
Radial (incisional)
keratotomy is a surgical
procedure for reduction
of myopia by incision
into the anterior
portion of the cornea,
avoiding a central zone
of 3-4mm diameter
No sutures or supports
are involved
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37. Contd...
The procedure an d effect of the number of incisions
usually 4, 8 or 16 equally spaced
Incision depth is usually 90-95% of the previously
measured central corneal thickness
The rigidity of the cornea is decreased such that
intraocular forces act on the cornea , causing the mid
peripheral regions to bulge forward effectively giving a
apical cap of flatter curvature than that measured
preoperatively
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38. Contd...
This flatter central curvature has less power and
results in a hypermetropic shift, hence reducing the
original myopia
After RK, the central cap is wider and needs a larger
back optic zone diameter (BOZD) to cover it and
give a lens stability
Fluorescein assessment should reveal good tear
flow beneath the lens and avoidance of undue
pressure on the mid peripheral region
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