Which type of corneal contact lenses are most frequently used for patients with keratoconus?

Scleral lenses are often considered the most effective option for patients with keratoconus. These custom contact lenses are designed to vault over the irregular surface of the cornea, providing better vision and comfort. Scleral lenses create a tear-filled space between the lens and the cornea, which helps in cushioning the eye and can reduce discomfort that may be associated with keratoconus.

While specially designed cone lenses aim to fit over the conical shape of the cornea typical in keratoconus patients, they have limitations compared to scleral lenses, particularly in terms of comfort and the ability to adequately correct vision distortion caused by the irregular corneal shape. Bandage contact lenses are generally used for protective purposes or to aid healing, rather than for vision correction in keratoconus. Soft contact lenses, despite being comfortable, often do not provide the needed optical correction for the irregular corneal shape presented in keratoconus cases. Therefore, scleral lenses emerge as the superior choice when addressing the unique challenges posed by keratoconus, as they effectively manage vision correction and comfort.