Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Ex Vivo and In Vivo Animal Models for Mechanical and Chemical Injuries of Corneal Epithelium
Published on: April 6, 2022
Visual rehabilitation after severe alkali injury with piggyback hyper O2 contact lenses
J Bradley Randleman1, Michael A Ward, R Doyle Stulting
1Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Purpose:
To report successful visual rehabilitation following severe bilateral alkali injury using piggyback hyperoxygen-transmissible (hyper O2) contact lenses.
Methods:
Case report and literature review.
Results:
More than 15 years after a severe bilateral alkali injury, multiple surgical procedures including repeat bilateral penetrating keratoplasty, severe tear deficiency, and chronic ocular surface disruption, the patient achieved 20/30 best-corrected vision through the simultaneous use of a hyper O2 rigid gas permeable contact lens over a hyper O2 soft contact lens in his right eye. The patient has tolerated this piggyback combination without any adverse reactions or complications, and his corneal graft remains clear and healthy.
Conclusion:
Visual rehabilitation for conditions that compromise the ocular surface can be accomplished by utilizing newer soft and rigid contact lens materials that facilitate oxygen transmission, thereby promoting epithelial healing and improving safety in extended wear situations. These newer materials may potentially reduce complications previously associated with extended wear therapeutic lenses.
