Contact lenses and refractive surgery. Addressing patient problems and concerns

Contact lenses, used by millions of people throughout the United States, are a safe, effective way to correct refractive errors and to improve the vision of patients with diseased corneas. Proper care and cleaning of contact lenses is very important; at the first sign of eye irritation, the lenses should be removed and a physician should be consulted. New advances include improved gas-permeable materials, new hypoallergenic solutions, and planned replacement systems. Excimer laser treatment and radial keratotomy are more invasive methods of correcting refractive problems and must be approached with great care and caution.