{"id":15878,"date":"2018-01-04T15:14:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T15:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/?p=15878"},"modified":"2025-11-13T09:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T09:31:14","slug":"management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Management of Keratoconus with Hard Contact Lenses"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"15878\" class=\"elementor elementor-15878\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-696fc351 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"696fc351\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60839514 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60839514\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-659185f2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"659185f2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77ab671e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77ab671e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"page-title\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000666;\">Management of Keratoconus with Hard Contact Lenses<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60119273 elementor-align-right elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"60119273\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/css\/widget-icon-list.min.css\"><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/pro-elements\/assets\/css\/widget-theme-elements.min.css?ver=1747297119\">\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-0d080fc elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>04\/01\/2018<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-e2c89b4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"about\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-tags\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M497.941 225.941L286.059 14.059A48 48 0 0 0 252.118 0H48C21.49 0 0 21.49 0 48v204.118a48 48 0 0 0 14.059 33.941l211.882 211.882c18.744 18.745 49.136 18.746 67.882 0l204.118-204.118c18.745-18.745 18.745-49.137 0-67.882zM112 160c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48s21.49-48 48-48 48 21.49 48 48-21.49 48-48 48zm513.941 133.823L421.823 497.941c-18.745 18.745-49.137 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L527.64 323.522c16.999-16.999 26.36-39.6 26.36-63.64s-9.362-46.641-26.36-63.64L331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-terms\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-info__terms-list\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/tag\/contact-lens\/\" class=\"elementor-post-info__terms-list-item\">Contact Lens<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/tag\/optometry\/\" class=\"elementor-post-info__terms-list-item\">Optometry<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26b50e37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26b50e37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"right\"} --><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">By<strong>\u00a0Alice Tassetti,\u00a0<\/strong>optometrist and student of SAERA and student of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/certificates-in-optometry\/\">Expert Certificate in Clinical Optometry<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<h3>Abstract<\/h3>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33ba7ed4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"33ba7ed4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Keratoconus is a progressive disease of the cornea which can lead to blindness as irregular astigmatism increases. Currently, a variety of methods are available for the treatment of keratoconus, and in certain cases, it may be difficult to choose the most appropriate option. This article reviews available hard <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/advanced-contact-lens-fitting\/\">contact lenses treatment<\/a> modalities for keratoconus. Various contact lenses methods are available for the treatment of keratoconus in the early stages before cross-linking, intrastromal corneal ring segments, keratoplasty (PK) and transplantation in advanced stages of the disease. To achieve optimum results, it is essential to choose the best option for each individual patient. To review treatment methods for different stages of keratoconus, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched using the keywords \u201ckeratoconus\u201d, \u201ccontact lens\u201d and \u201cirregular astigmatism\u201d.<\/p>\n<h6><strong>I. The Keratoconus<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Keratoconus is an axial ectasia of the cornea, generally asymmetric, non-inflammatory. It is bilateral in 96% of cases, it develops in asymmetric way, generally with the diagnosis of delayed disease in the second eye in five years after the first diagnosis. The course of the disease is highly variable, classically starting from puberty until the half of the thirty years and develops for 10-15 years until the fourth or fifth decade of life. The beginning of keratoconus is generally followed by a period of relative stability or very slow progression, which may be interspersed with episodes of more rapid evolution. The end of progression it is also variable: at the time of stabilization of the pathology it can be present an irregular astigmatism (that can be compensated with contact lenses and glasses) and a high thinning of the cornea, protrusion e scars that can be treated by keratoplasty or by other surgical techniques. Progression is initially characterized by a thinning of the central corneal stroma, apical protrusion that determines a curvature of the central curvature and a variable presence of scars. The thinned apex turns down, giving rise to irregular astigmatism, a characteristic of the disease that causes an alteration the quality of vision that can be minimal or high. The incidence of keratoconus varies from 50 to 230 considering a population of 100,000. The prevalence of keratoconus in a normal population has been reported not higher at 0.6%. The prognosis of this condition is unpredictable and its progression is variable; control visits are therefore recommended annual or more frequent. The disease does not cause blindness, but could compromise the quality of life. Most patients with keratoconus (74% of the eyes) can be non-treated surgically, while the remainder (26%) are treated with keratoplasty.<\/p>\n<h6><strong>II. Hard contact lenses for treatment of keratoconus<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>a. Corneal contact lenses<\/em>: The lenses with total diameter (TD) between 8 and 12.5 mm are considered corneal lenses. With the increase of the diameter of the cone also the diameter of the rear optical zone (BOZD), the radius base and the total diameter must increase, determining a better relationship between the sagittal depth of the cone and the sagittal depth of the optical area of the lens. The determination of the correspondence between these variables can be facilitated through the use of a corneal topographer, with which can be measured the position, size and area of the cone. If the optical area is too large compared to the diameter of the cone, the depth of the contact lens is greater than that of the cone, so that the presence of clearance around the cone may form bubbles in the pre-lens tear film. These conditions can affect visual performance. If the diameter of the optical area of the lens is too small, the depth of the lens will be smaller than the sagittal depth of the cone resulting in instability and lens decentralization. The peripheral area of the lens must flatten more than that of the peripheral flattening of the cornea and in doing so, it will have to ensure an axial lifting of the upper edge compared to that of a lens designed for a normal eye with an average eccentricity value of 0.5-0.6. The eccentricity values for the eyes with keratoconus are included in a range which goes from 0.65 and reaches values above 1.0 in advanced cases.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>b. Corneoscleral and semi-scleral permeable gas contact lenses<\/em>: With the advent of hyper-Dk GP materials, the applicators becomes more confident in the prescription of large-diameter lenses. Lenses with a diameter between 12.9 mm and 13.5 mm can be considered corneo-scleral while the lenses with a diameter between 13.6 mm and 14.9 mm can be considered semi-scleral lenses. For the application of these lenses we have to consider three distinct portions that can be modified in an independent way:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2022 The corneal portion (BOZD \/ BOZR),<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2022 The middle-peripheral portion that affects the sclero-corneal junction<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2022 The sclero-conjunctival portion<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Corneo-scleral lenses are applied ensuring a support central with a slight apical or corneoconforme clearance, ensuring a clearance above the corneo-scleral junction and alignment in the sclero-corneal area. Semi-scleral lenses are applied in the same way, but with a central clearance greater in order to guarantee a better film turnover tear. If the corneal topographic maps highlights a very large deformed cone (keratoglobal) which can be moved downward (PMD) or irregularly shaped (oblate, as in the case of postkeratoplasty PKP), a very large BOZD is needed and the management oh these cases are characteristic of these lenses.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>c. Mini-scleral and scleral GP lenses<\/em>: Lenses with diameters between 15.0 mm and 18.0 mm can be considered mini-scleral, and with diameters of 18.1 mm over 24 millimeters are considered scleral. The application of these lenses requires knowledge of the profile of the corneo-scleral junction and the scleral topography. These lenses are designed using to get alignment and stabilization on the scleral conjunctiva and lifting on the cornea, without touching the cone. In order to ensure this type of relationship the depth sagittal lens must be greater than that of the cornea. Because with this type of lenses the liquid tear remains under the lens can have an effect therapeutic in case of dry eye, besides masking very large areas of irregularity Corneal. These lenses offer advantages for advanced cases of PMD and keratoglobus and corneal transplants with raised grafts or inclined (or any other deformation due to surgery refractive), and also offer comfort and a better view. For the success of this application similarly to the semi-scleral geometry each of the three zones of the lens must be considered individually.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>d. Piggyback applications<\/em>: The traditional piggyback system, involves the use of a soft lens in which a flare (with diameters between 8.0 and 9.8 mm) has been created in which rigid lens is inserted. The soft lens has a total diameter between 12.5 to 14.5 mm. This king of application has the advantage of guaranteeing, in cases of mild or moderate oval cones, the centering of the contact lens on the pupil and a greater comfort, but has the disadvantage of reducing the oxygen tension under the two lenses to very low levels. With the advent of silicone hydrogel materials there has been a recovery of interest in piggybacking applications. These materials increase the tension of oxygen under the system of two lenses to 34 mm Hg lenses (PMMA lenses and low hydrophily lenses) at 95 mm Hg (with GP and SCL lenses). Another advantages of the piggyback system with Hydrogel silicone lenses is a slight corneal profile modeling and corneal protection when chronic abrasions are present.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:shortcode --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:shortcode --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-310d0792 elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"310d0792\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:start}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active{border-bottom:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:12px 10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8221\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8221\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">References<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8221\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8221\"><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Crews MJ, Driebe WT, Stern GA.\u00a0<em>The clinical management of keratoconus: a 6 year retrospective study. CLAO J<\/em>\u00a01994;20:194\u20137.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dao CL, Kok JH, Brinkman CJ, van M.\u00a0<em>Corneal eccentricity as a tool for the diagnosis of keratoconus. Cornea<\/em>\u00a01994;13:339\u201344.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">DeNaeyer GW, Breece R.\u00a0<em>Fitting techniques for a scleral lens design. Contact Lens Spectrum<\/em>\u00a02009;34\u20137.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Edrington TB, Barr JT, Zadnik K, et al.\u00a0<em>Standardized rigid contact lens fitting protocol for keratoconus. Optom Vis Sci<\/em>\u00a01996;73:369\u201375.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Longitudinal<\/em>\u00a0<em>Evaluation of Keratoconus.\u00a0<\/em>Cornea 1998;17:267\u201377.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Girard LJ, Soper JW.\u00a0<em>Indications for contact lenses or keratoplasty in keratoconus. Ophthalmologica<\/em>\u00a01965;150:161\u20136.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hom MM.\u00a0<em>Another perspective on keratoconus contact lens fitting. J Am Optom Assoc<\/em>\u00a01986;57:886\u20138.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kok JH, van M.\u00a0<em>Piggyback lenses in keratoconus<\/em>. Cornea 1993;12:60\u20134.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leung KK.\u00a0<em>RGP fitting philosophies for keratoconus<\/em>. Clin Exp Optom 1999;82:230\u20135.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mannis MJ, Zadnik K.\u00a0<em>Contact lens fitting in keratoconus<\/em>. CLAO J 1989;15:282\u20139.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Norman C, Caroline PJ.\u00a0<em>Step-by-step approach to managing keratoconus patients with RGPs<\/em>. Contact Lens Forum 1986;11:25\u201331.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">O\u2019Donnel C, Codina CM.\u00a0<em>A hyper-Dk piggyback contact lens system for keratoconus<\/em>.\u00a0<em>Eye Contact Lens<\/em>\u00a02004;30:44\u20138.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tsubota K, Mashima Y, Murata H, Yamada M.\u00a0<em>A piggyback contact lens for the correction of irregular astigmatism in keratoconus. Ophthalmology<\/em>\u00a01994;101:134\u20139.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Visser ES.\u00a0<em>Advanced contact lens fitting: part 5 \u2013 the scleral contact lens \u2013 clinical indications. Optician<\/em>\u00a01997;214: 15\u201320.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Woodward E.\u00a0<em>The role of rigid contact lenses in the management of keratoconus. J Brit Contact Lens Assoc<\/em>\u00a01991;14:211\u20137.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a0da4a6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6a0da4a6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d177619 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4d177619\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a85e63a elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-text\" data-id=\"3a85e63a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Check our educational programmes:<\/h5>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a6155b1 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a6155b1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55b0c23c elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"55b0c23c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-content{width:100%}@media (min-width:768px){.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-position-left .elementor-image-box-wrapper,.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-position-right .elementor-image-box-wrapper{display:flex}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-position-right .elementor-image-box-wrapper{text-align:end;flex-direction:row-reverse}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-position-left .elementor-image-box-wrapper{text-align:start;flex-direction:row}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-position-top .elementor-image-box-img{margin:auto}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-vertical-align-top .elementor-image-box-wrapper{align-items:flex-start}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-vertical-align-middle .elementor-image-box-wrapper{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-image-box.elementor-vertical-align-bottom .elementor-image-box-wrapper{align-items:flex-end}}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-img{margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-bottom:15px}}.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-img{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-title a{color:inherit}.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-wrapper{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image-box .elementor-image-box-description{margin:0}<\/style><div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saera.eu\/en\/audiology\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-14634\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/oreja_cuadrado-1-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saera.eu\/en\/audiology\/\">Audiology<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12f09b04 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"12f09b04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/optometry\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-14637\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ojo_cuadrado-1-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/optometry\/\">Optometry<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ce1a436 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"6ce1a436\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/applied-neuroscience-programmes\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-14636\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cerebro_cuadrado-1-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/applied-neuroscience-programmes\/\">Neuroscience<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23f8c82f elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"23f8c82f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/speech-and-language-therapy-programmes\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-14635\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fonoaudiologia-1-1.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/speech-and-language-therapy-programmes\/\">Speech-Language Pathology<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6267695 elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-text\" data-id=\"6267695\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Search:<\/h5>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2346bb5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-search\" data-id=\"2346bb5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-search.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<form role=\"search\" class=\"bs-search search-form\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/\">\n    <div class=\"search-wrap\">\n    \t<label class=\"screen-reader-text\">\n    \t\tSearch for:    \t<\/label>\n        <input type=\"search\" placeholder=\"Searching...\" name=\"s\" class=\"search-input\" value=\"\" \/>\n        <button type=\"submit\"  value=\"Search\"><i class=\"flaticon-search\"><\/i><\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b5151b elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-text\" data-id=\"7b5151b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Latest Posts<\/h5>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c10c437 elementor-widget elementor-widget-rsblog\" data-id=\"6c10c437\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"rsblog.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t         \r\n\t\t<div class=\"rs-blog-grid rs-blog-grid2\">            \r\n\t\t\t\r\n            <div class=\"row blog-gird-item\">\r\n                \r\n\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-item col-lg-12  filter_audiology filter_blog filter_masters-thesis \">\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"no-gutter blog-item rs-blog-grid1\">\r\n                                                           \r\n                                <div class=\"image-part\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/17\/speech-in-noise-testing-in-arabic-a-literature-review-and-clinical-implications-for-lebanese-arabic\/\">\r\n                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mar-17-2026-10_09_50-AM.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mar-17-2026-10_09_50-AM.png 1536w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mar-17-2026-10_09_50-AM-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mar-17-2026-10_09_50-AM-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mar-17-2026-10_09_50-AM-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>                                    <\/a> \r\n                                <\/div>                             \r\n                                \r\n                                <div class=\"blog-content\">                                    \r\n                                                                               <ul class=\"blog-meta\">\r\n                                                                                                                                            <li><i class=\"fa fa-calendar-check-o\"><\/i> 17 March 2026<\/li>\r\n                                                                                                                                                                                <\/ul>\r\n                                                                                \r\n                                        <h3 class=\"title dd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/17\/speech-in-noise-testing-in-arabic-a-literature-review-and-clinical-implications-for-lebanese-arabic\/\">Speech-in-Noise Testing in Arabic: A Literature Review and Clinical Implications for Lebanese Arabic<\/a><\/h3>\r\n                                                                                <div class=\"btn-btm d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\">\r\n                                                                                                                                        <div class=\"btn-part\">\r\n                                                    <a class=\"readon-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/17\/speech-in-noise-testing-in-arabic-a-literature-review-and-clinical-implications-for-lebanese-arabic\/\">\r\n                                                        Read More <i class=\"fa fa fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\r\n                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                                <\/div>\r\n                                                                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                                <\/div>                                \r\n                            \r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                                                    \r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-item col-lg-12  filter_audiology filter_blog filter_masters-thesis \">\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"no-gutter blog-item rs-blog-grid1\">\r\n                                                           \r\n                                <div class=\"image-part\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/05\/tinnitus-management-and-rehabilitation\/\">\r\n                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rajeev-S.-2026.-Tinnitus-Management-and-Rehabilation.-SAERA.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rajeev-S.-2026.-Tinnitus-Management-and-Rehabilation.-SAERA.png 1536w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rajeev-S.-2026.-Tinnitus-Management-and-Rehabilation.-SAERA-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rajeev-S.-2026.-Tinnitus-Management-and-Rehabilation.-SAERA-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rajeev-S.-2026.-Tinnitus-Management-and-Rehabilation.-SAERA-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>                                    <\/a> \r\n                                <\/div>                             \r\n                                \r\n                                <div class=\"blog-content\">                                    \r\n                                                                               <ul class=\"blog-meta\">\r\n                                                                                                                                            <li><i class=\"fa fa-calendar-check-o\"><\/i> 5 March 2026<\/li>\r\n                                                                                                                                                                                <\/ul>\r\n                                                                                \r\n                                        <h3 class=\"title dd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/05\/tinnitus-management-and-rehabilitation\/\">Tinnitus Management and Rehabilitation: The Efficiency of Tinnitus Masker and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Normal Hearing and Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss<\/a><\/h3>\r\n                                                                                <div class=\"btn-btm d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\">\r\n                                                                                                                                        <div class=\"btn-part\">\r\n                                                    <a class=\"readon-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/03\/05\/tinnitus-management-and-rehabilitation\/\">\r\n                                                        Read More <i class=\"fa fa fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\r\n                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                                <\/div>\r\n                                                                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                                <\/div>                                \r\n                            \r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                                                    \r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-item col-lg-12  filter_audiology filter_blog filter_masters-thesis \">\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"no-gutter blog-item rs-blog-grid1\">\r\n                                                           \r\n                                <div class=\"image-part\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/17\/comparative-sound-processing-strategies-in-cochlear-implants\/\">\r\n                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Khalil-E.-M.-2026.-Comparative-Sound-Processing-Strategies-in-Cochlear-Implants-Cochlear-ACE-MED-EL-FS4-and-Advanced-Bionics-HiResOptima.-SAERA.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Khalil-E.-M.-2026.-Comparative-Sound-Processing-Strategies-in-Cochlear-Implants-Cochlear-ACE-MED-EL-FS4-and-Advanced-Bionics-HiResOptima.-SAERA.png 1536w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Khalil-E.-M.-2026.-Comparative-Sound-Processing-Strategies-in-Cochlear-Implants-Cochlear-ACE-MED-EL-FS4-and-Advanced-Bionics-HiResOptima.-SAERA-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Khalil-E.-M.-2026.-Comparative-Sound-Processing-Strategies-in-Cochlear-Implants-Cochlear-ACE-MED-EL-FS4-and-Advanced-Bionics-HiResOptima.-SAERA-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Khalil-E.-M.-2026.-Comparative-Sound-Processing-Strategies-in-Cochlear-Implants-Cochlear-ACE-MED-EL-FS4-and-Advanced-Bionics-HiResOptima.-SAERA-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>                                    <\/a> \r\n                                <\/div>                             \r\n                                \r\n                                <div class=\"blog-content\">                                    \r\n                                                                               <ul class=\"blog-meta\">\r\n                                                                                                                                            <li><i class=\"fa fa-calendar-check-o\"><\/i> 17 February 2026<\/li>\r\n                                                                                                                                                                                <\/ul>\r\n                                                                                \r\n                                        <h3 class=\"title dd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/17\/comparative-sound-processing-strategies-in-cochlear-implants\/\">Comparative Sound-Processing Strategies in Cochlear Implants: Cochlear (ACE), MED-EL (FS4), and Advanced Bionics (HiRes\/Optima)<\/a><\/h3>\r\n                                                                                <div class=\"btn-btm d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\">\r\n                                                                                                                                        <div class=\"btn-part\">\r\n                                                    <a class=\"readon-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/17\/comparative-sound-processing-strategies-in-cochlear-implants\/\">\r\n                                                        Read More <i class=\"fa fa fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\r\n                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                                <\/div>\r\n                                                                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                                <\/div>                                \r\n                            \r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                                                    \r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-item col-lg-12  filter_collaborations \">\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"no-gutter blog-item rs-blog-grid1\">\r\n                                                           \r\n                                <div class=\"image-part\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/11\/saera-contributes-standardised-assessment-tools-to-ricpp-testing-laboratory\/\">\r\n                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-11-at-11.45.17-e1770815562912.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-11-at-11.45.17-e1770815562912.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-11-at-11.45.17-e1770815562912-300x171.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-11-at-11.45.17-e1770815562912-1024x585.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-11-at-11.45.17-e1770815562912-768x438.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>                                    <\/a> \r\n                                <\/div>                             \r\n                                \r\n                                <div class=\"blog-content\">                                    \r\n                                                                               <ul class=\"blog-meta\">\r\n                                                                                                                                            <li><i class=\"fa fa-calendar-check-o\"><\/i> 11 February 2026<\/li>\r\n                                                                                                                                                                                <\/ul>\r\n                                                                                \r\n                                        <h3 class=\"title dd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/11\/saera-contributes-standardised-assessment-tools-to-ricpp-testing-laboratory\/\">SAERA Contributes Standardised Assessment Tools to RICPP Testing Laboratory<\/a><\/h3>\r\n                                                                                <div class=\"btn-btm d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between\">\r\n                                                                                                                                        <div class=\"btn-part\">\r\n                                                    <a class=\"readon-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2026\/02\/11\/saera-contributes-standardised-assessment-tools-to-ricpp-testing-laboratory\/\">\r\n                                                        Read More <i class=\"fa fa fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\r\n                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                                <\/div>\r\n                                                                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                                <\/div>                                \r\n                            \r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                                                    \r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t                 \r\n                         \r\n                <\/div>   \r\n                               \r\n            \t    \r\n                              \r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t   \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Article by Alice Tassetti, optometrist and student of SAERA. This article reviews available hard contact lenses treatment modalities for keratoconus, a progressive disease of the cornea which can lead to blindness as irregular astigmatism increases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,176,93],"tags":[149,97],"class_list":["post-15878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-blog","category-optometry","tag-contact-lens","tag-optometry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Managing Keratoconus with Hard Contact Lenses | SAERA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how hard contact lenses are used in the management of keratoconus. Explore benefits, challenges, and best practices for improving vision in keratoconus patients.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Managing Keratoconus with Hard Contact Lenses | SAERA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how hard contact lenses are used in the management of keratoconus. Explore benefits, challenges, and best practices for improving vision in keratoconus patients.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Saera EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-01-04T15:14:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-13T09:31:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/admin-ajax-18.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"436\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"saeraadmin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"saeraadmin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/\",\"name\":\"Managing Keratoconus with Hard Contact Lenses | SAERA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/2018\/01\/04\/management-of-keratoconus-with-hard-contact-lenses\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/admin-ajax-18.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-01-04T15:14:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-13T09:31:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saera.eu\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a3f658cb3375ae001b6cc35150e9bc9d\"},\"description\":\"Learn how hard contact lenses are used in the management of keratoconus. 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