New hybrid contact lens appears a promising alternative for keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration

This retrospective study evaluated initial results with a third-generation hybrid lens (a rigid gas permeable center and a soft skirt) called SynergEyes. It included 44 patients (61 eyes) with keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration (three eyes) who were intolerant or unable to be fit with rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP). Patients' mean age was 40, and the mean follow-up period was about eight months.  The success rate was 86.9 percent (53 of 61 eyes). Six patients (eight eyes)stopped using the lenses within the first one to two months due to discomfort (five eyes) or unsatisfactory vision (three eyes). 

The authors concluded that this third generation hybrid lens appears to be a significant improvement over the second generation lens, SoftPerm, and that they may enable many RGP failures to avoid surgery.