Therapeutic use of soft contact lenses.

Soft contact lenses are widely used for correction of refractive errors and in diseases related to corneal surface irregularities. In this case series we have used soft contact lenses in treatment of patients having bullous keratopathy, corneal ulcer, dry eye, trichiasis and corneal perforation. Soft contact lenses were found to be superior than conventional method of treatment and they have revolutionized the management of corneal diseases. Visual improvement was found to be satisfactory in all cases along with definite improvement of symptoms in cases of corneal surface irregularities. INTRODUCTION Contact lenses are devices used to shape anterior surface of cornea enabling them to be used as excellent means for correction of refractive errors and corneal diseases related to corneal surface irregularities. Contact lenses have been used for various purposes like diagnostic, optical, cosmetic, therapeutic ,occupational and research 1 . The concept of contact lenses dates back to 1508 AD when Leonardo da Vinci conceptualized substituting cornea with a new refractive surface. In prehistoric times when lenses were not available shells of methacrylate were used. Gauze soaked in honey was placed in the fornix to prevent symblepharon.In 1960 moulded lenses were used for therapeutic purposes by Witcherle and Linn. This form of therapy represents a significant addition to the armamentarium of ophthalmologists for treatment of corneal diseases 2 . Properties of soft contact lenses are high water content, permeability, flexibility and relatively low movement. They are made of hydrogel which have property of imbibing large quantities of water without dissolution. They also act as a bandage over the cornea and help in healing of corneal wounds thus improving visual acuity and giving symptomatic relief in various pathological conditions of the cornea. These lenses are resistant to biodegradation or attack by any enzyme constituent of normal or abnormal tears and also to thermal sterilization which was used as means of sterilization of lenses in our study. So we gave a trial of contact lenses for therapeutic purpose in five ocular conditions, i.e Bullous Keratopathy, Corneal Ulcer, Trichiasis, Dry Eye and Corneal Perforation www.jmscr.igmpublication.org Impact Factor 5.244 Index Copernicus Value: 83.27 ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i11.36