ABSTRACT
A retrospective study of 246 consecutive patients fit with daily and extended wear soft contact lenses was undertalken to determine the incidence and range of lens related problems is cosmetic, aphakic, and keratoplasty patients in a cornea service setting. Adequate data for inclusion in the study were available from 212 patients, who were folloowed for a minimum of six months (range 6-42 months; memdian 30 months). Approximately half (105 of 212; 50%) of the patients demonstrated problems. The most common problem was corneal neovascularization (61 of 212; 29%), which was greater than 1mm in 10% (22 of 212). Seious complications were infrequent. Two aphakic graft patients developed suture abscesses and three had rejection episodes. Overall, extended wear lens patients were significantly more likely to have complications (62 of 85; 73%) thandaily wear lens patients (43 of 127; 34%) (P < 001). Cosmetic lens patients were significantly less likely to have problems (34 of 98; 35%) than aphakic patients (35 of 50; 70%) (P , 001). Our data suggest that problems (including peripheral neovascularization, deposits, and chemical reactions related to soft lens wear) are common, but serious, visiontion, deposits, and chemical reactions related do soft lens wear) are common, but serious, visionthreatening complications (including corneal ulcers) are infrequent when lenses are fit carefully and patients are repeatedly instructed regarding lens use