THERAPEUTIC CONTACT LENSES IN OCULAR SURFACE PATHOLOGY

Therapeutic contact lenses are special contact lenses worn for the treatment of corneal or anterior eye diseases and injuries. They are primarily used for pain relief and increase of comfort, assistance of wound healing, mechanical protection, maintenance of ocular surface hydration and as a vehicle for drug delivery. The use of plano or powered contact lenses may also preserve or enhance vision in injured eyes. The materials used for therapeutic contact lenses are hydrogels, silicone elastomers, collagen, and gas permeable polymers in the form of scleral lenses. Silicone hydrogel lenses, available since 1999 and approved for therapeutic use, became the first choice because of very high oxygen transmissibility, lower on-eye dehydration and good comfort and coverage of the eye surface. Rezumat: Lentilele de contact terapeutice sunt lentile de contact speciale, folosite in tratamentul unor afecţiuni ale suprafeței oculare. Ele au ca efecte principale: reducerea durerii si cresterea confortului, asistarea reparării tisulare, protecţie mecanică, menţinerea hidratării suprafeţei oculare si rezervor de substanţe medicamentoase. Pot avea si rolul de a menţine sau imbunătăţi vederea. Materialele folosite sunt diverse : hidrogel, elastomeri siliconici, collagen, polimeri gaz permeabili in forma de lentile sclerale. Lentilele din silicon-hidrogel, disponibile din 1999, au devenit prima opţiune datorită inaltei transmisibilităţi la oxigen, rezistenţei la deshidratare si bunei acoperiri a suprafeţei oculare.