Quantitative assessment of bandage soft contact lens wear immediately after LASIK.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of overnight bandage soft contact lenses applied immediately after LASIK.

Methods: Bandage soft contact lenses were applied immediately following bilateral simultaneous LASIK in 161 consecutive patients. Signs and symptoms associated with contact lens wear were prospectively recorded at 1 hour, 4 hours, and the following morning, using a standardized questionnaire. Contact lenses were removed at 1 hour if patients were symptomatic of intolerance. If no signs of contact lens intolerance appeared at 1 hour, the lenses were removed the following morning. No contact lenses were applied in 61 patients after LASIK.

Results: One hour after the procedure, contact lenses were removed from 47 patients due to intolerance. In these patients, contact lens removal was associated with a significant decrease of the total score the next morning (0.31±0.55) compared to 1 hour (5.65±1.60, P<.0001). A similar decrease of the total score was noted in those patients who tolerated the contact lenses (0.20±0.52 vs 1.30±1.78) and those in whom the contact lenses were not applied (0.76±1.19 vs 3.24±1.93). Mucoid discharge at the lid margins was noted in 52.6% of patients and mild corneal edema was noted in 28.8% of patients with bandage soft contact lenses at 12 to 18 hours.

Conclusions: Bandage soft contact lens application after LASIK is associated with significant reduction of symptoms during the immediate postoperative period. However, removal of these lenses may be necessary shortly after the procedure.