Glued-on, rigid gas-permeable contact lens for severe radiation-induced keratitis

A 68-year-old woman with severe radiation-induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca became progressively unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. Her left eye deteriorated rapidly and required total tarsorrhaphy. In an attempt to stabilize the right eye and preserve some functional vision, we glued a high-Dk rigid, gas-permeable contact lens with tissue-grade cyanoacrylate adhesive to Bowman's membrane. This glued-on contact lens induced rapid and dramatic improvement of the patient's comfort and sight. Recent developments in high-permeability, rigid, contact-lens materials now make artificial replacement of the epithelium a potentially useful treatment for severe ocular surface disease when conventional treatment has failed.