Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of silicone hydrogel contact lenses applied immediately after Sub-bowman keratomileusis.
Methods:
The study was based on 46 myopic patients (92 consecutive eyes) who underwent bilateral Sub-Bowman Keratomileusis (SBK). Each patient wore a PureVision contact lens in one randomly-selected eye and nothing in the fellow eye immediately after SBK. The contact lens was removed the next day. Fluorescein staining(FL), tear film break up time(TBUT), schirmer I test(SIT), central corneal thickness(CCT), ocular surface disease index(OSDI), corneal hysteresis(CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF) and corneal flap-related complications (postoperatively) were assessed preoperatively and 1 day (except for CH and CRF), 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively.
Results:
FL and TBUT of treated eye were improved at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively in contrast with the controlled, but significantly aggravations were found at 1 day and 1 week after SBK compared with preoperative level. There was no significantly difference in SIT between treated and controlled eye postoperatively, but both eyes showed the same reduction contrasted with preoperation except for 1 day. CCT of treated eye was thinner than controlled at 1 day after surgery and both decreased obviously compared with preoperatively. OSDI of treated eye was alleviated more at 1 day after SBK than the controlled, but a significant severity existed at any visit for both in contrast with that before surgery. There were no differences in CH and CRF between treated and controlled eye after surgery, but both eyes showed significantly decrease at any follow-up time. No obviously differences were found in complications related to the corneal flap between treated and controlled eye postoperatively.
Conclusions:
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses applied immediately after SBK can effectively reduce corneal epithelium staining , increase tear film stability , relieve corneal edema and alleviate discomfort. However, it can’t shorten the duration of ocular surface changes and symptoms revalant to SBK.
Keywords: 477 contact lens •
678 refractive surgery