Photokeratoscopy in the fitting of soft contact lenses

Our ultimate goal is to develop a photokeratoscopic system that will enable the fitter to select an initial lens of the proper design and power to fit a given eye and with reasonable assurance that further fitting will rarely be required. Our studies in this direction have carried us through to a prefitting screening system for the Bausch and Lomb Soflens that greatly increases the probability of successful fitting (and which demonstrates the importance of corneal shape in the successful fit of this lens) to a highly promising experimental system that is applicable to larger lenses with spherical base curves. The development of this computer-assisted fitting system is highly desirable. It will make the fitting a much simpler and efficient process with much less trauma to the eye and a marked reduction in the risk of accidental infection than with trial lens fitting. But, a second desirable effect that is not readily apparent is the use of the computer to drive fabrication equipment to manufacture lenses on a custom-fit basis to obtain the maximum in physiological tolerance that these lenses are capable of delivering. In either case, the patient is the ultimate beneficiary and that should always be our major goal.