Bandage Contact Lens as an Alternative to a Temporary Keratoprosthesis for Vitrectomy With Concurrent Corneal Opacity

Purpose: To present a case of a bandage contact lens being used as an alternative to a temporary keratoprosthesis for urgent vitreoretinal surgery. Methods: A single case was evaluated. Results: A 72-year-old man with monocular vision presented with a retinal detachment (RD) after repair of a traumatic globe rupture. His ocular history included previous penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and RD surgery in the eye that had visual ability. The previous corneal graft was opacified and a conventional temporary keratoprosthesis was unavailable. After removal of the corneal graft, a bandage contact lens was used as an alternative to a temporary keratoprosthesis. Subsequently, pars plana vitrectomy and a PKP were performed. The bandage contact lens provided excellent visualization for the vitrectomy and resulted in a successful final outcome. Conclusions: When corneal opacity precludes vitrectomy and a temporary keratoprosthesis is unavailable, a bandage contact lens is a viable option.