[Treatment of traumatic corneal abrasion with contact lens associated with topical nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID) and antibiotic: a safe, effective and comfortable solution].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefit of using therapeutic soft contact lenses in association with NSAID and antibiotic drops for the treatment of traumatic corneal abrasions. The impact on patient pain and on the incapacity to work are analyzed.


METHODS
The treatment of 176 consecutive patients presenting with traumatic corneal abrasion was evaluated in a prospective study. Therapeutic contact lenses, NSAID drops (diclofenac), and antibiotic drops (tobramycin) without cycloplegia were used.


RESULTS
Psychometric evaluation of pain revealed sufficient comfort with this regimen, allowing 123 patients (80.39%) to immediately go back to their occupations. This return to usual occupations varied with the size of the abrasion: it was obtained in 80 patients (93.02%) from the "foreign body" group (size of abrasion < 10 mm2). In the "other etiologie" group, this ability was obtained in 30 of 41 patients (73.17%) presenting an abrasion smaller than 10 mm2, in 6 of 13 patients (46.15%) presenting an abrasion between 10 and 20 mm2, and in 7 of 9 patients (77.78%) presenting an abrasion between 20 and 30 mm2. All the patients with an abrasion longer than 30 mm2 were unable to continue usual occupations. No serious complications appeared during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of traumatic corneal abrasion with a contact lens associated with topical NSAID drops sufficiently reduced the pain to allow 80.39% of the patients to go return immediately to their normal activities. The combined use of soft contact lenses, NSAID drops, and antibiotic drops without cycloplegia appeared to be an effective treatment for traumatic corneal abrasion.
Vandorselaer
T
T
Service d'Ophtalmologie, CHU Saint-Pierre, 322 rue Haute, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique.
Youssfi
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H
Caspers-Valu
L E
LE
Dumont
P
P
Vauthier
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D004008:Diclofenac; D014031:Tobramycin