Posters

Visual recovery after ocular trauma with contact lenses

Poster Details

First Author: I.Van der Meulen THE NETHERLANDS

Co Author(s):    H. van Vliet   C. Nieuwendaal   R. Lapid-Gortzak        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

to investigate the contribution of contact lenses (CL) to the therapeutic arsenal after ocular trauma, and in particular to improvement of the visual prognosis.

Setting:

A tertiary referral center: Academic Medical Center, and Oculenti, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Methods:

Retrospective case series of patients who were fitted with CL after an ocular trauma (which could be a perforating, blunt, thermic or chemical trauma). Different CL were adjusted (soft, rigid gas permeable, scleral, iris print or TRT).

Results:

Twenty patients were identified. Mean age was 27.3 years (range, 4.8 - 72.0); 6 were younger than 15 years. Sixteen patients were male (80%). Median number of surgeries per eye was 2.0 (range, 0-12) and five eyes were left aphakic (25%). Median best spectacle corrected visual acuity (VA) was 0.32 (range, 1/300 - 1.0) and with CL correction 0.50 (range, 1/300 - 1.0). VA improved in 65% of patients with CL correction in comparison to spectacle correction. Other reasons to start CL wear were to correct high or irregular corneal astigmatism, diminish straylight or improve comfort or cosmesis.

Conclusions:

After ocular trauma, CL are better suited than spectacles to improve VA by correcting aphakia and high or irregular astigmatism. CL can also increase comfort and cosmesis. As many patients are young, CL handling can usually be learned. Therefore, CL should be considered an important therapeutic option after ocular trauma. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE