title: Extended wear rigid gas permeable lenses used for correction of aphakia.
abstract: A study of extended wear rigid gas permeable lenses in aphakic patients was started in 1975. We present an analysis of 186 patients (274 eyes) with from 1 to 194 months (average: 88 months) of extended wear. Patients wore their lenses 24 hours per day, only removing the lenses for periodic cleaning. Approximately one-third of the patients removed their lenses at least once per week; roughly another one-third wore lenses for up to a month between cleanings; and one-third cleaned lenses at intervals up to 6 months. All of the patients in the study achieved vision with their contact lenses comparable to their best spectacle correction without an overcorrection. None of the patients experienced a permanent loss of vision as a result of this mode of contact lens wear.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aucoin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gladstone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003262:Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear / Q000009:adverse effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged