Immediate refitting with gas permeable lenses

Handling long-term polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lens wearers, especially those suffering severe corneal oxygen deprivation, has been a problem much relieved by the introduction of oxygen permeable rigid lenses. Previous methods including lens modifications, discontinuation of lens wear, and de-adaptation possessed limitations which could cause the patient to experience permanent corneal curvature and refractive changes. Immediately refitting these patients with gas permeable lenses has been a procedure which appears to have eliminated many of the previous problems and has achieved rapid approval from contact lens practitioners the past few years. This paper discusses how this procedure can be performed to the satisfaction of both the optometrist and the patient.