Twelve years' continuous wear of the same therapeutic soft contact lens: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of a patient who had worn the same therapeutic soft contact lens (TSCL) continuously for twelve years, since he had failed to attend normal follow-up visits.


METHODS
Microbiological histological and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies of conjunctiva, cornea and TSCL were done.


RESULTS
Cultures were negative. Corneal histology revealed mild stromal edema and mild epithelial parakeratosis. Corneal SEM was remarkable for the preservation to some extent of normal corneal epithelial specialization with microtricae and microvillae. SEM of the TSCL showed a ruffed multi-layer surface with several cracks including different types of cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The patient showed surprising tolerance to the continuous wear of the same contact lens for 12 years.
Kokolakis
S
S
General Hospital of Athens, University Eye Clinic, Athens Medical School, Greece.
Baltatzis
S
S
Zafirakis
P
P
Livir-Rallatos
G
G
Ladas
I
I
Voudouri
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002465:Cell Movement; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013997:Time Factors