An alternative approach to bandage contact lenses.
PURPOSE: Therapeutic bandage contact lenses have been used in the management of a variety of corneal and anterior segment disorders. However, clinical experience with the therapeutic use of disposable contact lenses is limited. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of disposable contact lenses as bandage lenses in anterior segment disorders. METHODS: We fit 45 patients who had various corneal and anterior segment disorders with disposable contact lenses (42% etafilcon A and 58% water content). We used this lens as a healing and surgical adjunct and for structural support and symptomatic relief. Patients were followed for a minimum period of 3 months. Therapeutic efficacy and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of patients were fit successfully. Ninety-one percent of the successfully fit patients were therapeutic successes. Disposable lenses were found to be very useful in the management of epithelial abnormalities and as surgical adjuncts. Dry eye was the most frequent cause of contact lens associated therapeutic failure. Complications included contact lens deposits, lens loss, and corneal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The use of disposable lenses was most effective in conditions requiring short-term lens use where one to two lens applications were sufficient to allow healing, making disposable lenses a very convenient and cost-effective alternative to conventional therapeutic bandage contact lenses. For reasons of cost, disposable lenses were not a viable alternative in conditions requiring therapeutic lens use for long periods of time.