Keratoconus and specialty contact lens trials: site capability

Specialty contact lens and keratoconus studies fail for a specific reason: the fitting is the intervention. A lens design can only be evaluated properly by clinicians who fit that category every week and can tell a design problem from a fitting problem. This page is for lens manufacturers, material suppliers and corneal device sponsors.

Why this site

NZERC's lead investigator holds a master's degree with honours in specialty contact lenses and orthokeratology from the University of Auckland and has published on orthokeratology, including a 2025 review in Open Access Journal of Ophthalmology and a 2023 case report on orthokeratology-related Acanthamoeba keratitis in Clinical & Experimental Optometry. The team includes an optometrist with a special interest in keratoconus. The founder also designs rigid contact lenses commercially, so protocol discussions about lens geometry are practical rather than theoretical.

Endpoints we measure

• Corneal tomography on Heidelberg Anterion: elevation, pachymetry maps and anterior chamber metrics.
• Corneal topography on Medmont Meridia, including the indices used to judge keratoconus progression.
• Endothelial cell density and morphology on Tomey EM-4000 specular microscopy, the safety endpoint that matters most in extended and overnight lens wear.
• Anterior segment OCT and imaging for lens fit, clearance and corneal response, with images retained for masked grading.
• Fluorescein imaging for fit assessment and staining.
• Axial length on three optical biometers, for orthokeratology myopia control designs.
• Visual acuity and refraction on standardised charts.

Study types we can run

• New rigid, orthokeratology and scleral lens designs and materials: fit, comfort, wearing time, corneal response.
• Orthokeratology for myopia control, alone or combined with other treatments. See myopia trial capability.
• Lens care and disinfection systems, where we have published comparative reviews, including hydrogen peroxide systems and orthokeratology lens care.
• Keratoconus monitoring and imaging studies, including progression detection.
• Post-cross-linking lens fitting and visual outcome studies, with surgical partners.

Population

NZERC works alongside a Hamilton specialty contact lens practice with an established keratoconus and irregular cornea caseload, receiving referrals from optometrists and ophthalmologists across the Waikato. Related work includes advanced corneal imaging and keratoconus monitoring and the national patient resource Keratoconus NZ.

Next step

Email research@nzerc.com or use the sponsor enquiry form. See also our information for sponsors and CROs and equipment and endpoints.