by Joel Harrison
16. September 2010 15:02
In the latest edition of Contact Lens Today, Dr Ronald K. Watanabe discusses the problem of dealing with dry eye in patients wearing contact lenses. In his opinion, automatically changing contact lens material is a mistake made by numerous eye care practitioners. Before refitting patients with new contact lenses, he points out, ophthalmologists should carefully examine the patient.
Among the conditions that may be discovered, Watanabe enumerates lid diseases, aqueous deficiency, solution preservative sensitivities, all of which can be treated successfully. Contact lens material should be change only if the patient still complains about dry eye after treatment.
Then, before deciding which material would be the most appropriate, the practitioner should consider several things. If there are signs of hypoxia, the patient should start using silicone hydrogel lenses. If the patient uses a material with high water content, a low-water alternative is recommended. And when surface deposit poses a problem, the patient should change his or her replacement schedule to a shorter one.
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