Contact lens problems

Background

• Mechanisms of complications include:
  • Direct trauma
  • Decreased corneal oxygenation
  • Reduced corneal/conjunctival wetting
  • Allergic/inflammatory responses
  • Infection

Clinical Features

• Presentation of various problems may be complicated by hypoesthesia in chronic contact lense wearers
  • Pain, photophobia, foreign body sensation, decreased visual acuity, discharge, and burning are common.

Differential Diagnosis

Contact lens wearers are at increased risk of:

• Bacterial keratitis, Herpes keratitis, fungal and parasitic keratitis
• Keratoconjunctivitis
• Pseudomonas conjunctivitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Corneal abrasion
• Corneal ulcer
• Corneal edema, distortion
• Sterile infiltrates
• Neovascularization