Soft contact lens use for upper eyelid surgery.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Plastic Surgery
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Upper eyelid reconstruction is a complex surgical procedure.
• Protecting the ocular surface during surgery is crucial for patient outcomes.
• The role of specialized contact lenses in ophthalmic surgery is an area of ongoing investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses (SHSCLs) during upper eyelid procedures.
• To evaluate patient comfort, ocular surface health, and healing speed with SHSCL use.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 13 patients (14 eyes) undergoing full-thickness upper lid reconstruction.
• PureVision silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses were applied pre-operatively.
• Outcomes assessed included comfort, conjunctival injection, chemosis, corneal abrasion, edema, infection, and healing rate.

Main Results:

• A majority of eyes (64.29%) remained asymptomatic.
• Corneal abrasions occurred in three eyes but resolved with lens adjustment.
• No cases of chemosis, infection, or delayed wound healing were reported; mean wear time was 19.5 days.

Conclusions:

• Silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses appear to be a beneficial adjunct in upper eyelid surgery.
• SHSCLs may improve patient comfort and do not impede wound healing.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore optimal application protocols.