Scleral gel contact lenses in treatment of dry eyes

Abstract

21 dry eyes of various aetiology were treated with hydrophilic corneo-scleral gel contact lenses. These lenses, which can be worn for from 24 to 36 hours, maintain a large pool of precorneal fluid over the entire cornea, protecting it and permitting easier regeneration of corneal tissue. The slow and continuous debridement of the filaments at the sites of dry spots caused by chemical burns as well as of the ''leathery'' corneal layers seen in cases of xerosis and keratosis was followed by the regrowth of normal epithelium. The follow-up period was 10 to 20 months.