title: Efficacy of continuous wear PureVision contact lenses for therapeutic use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the Bausch and Lomb PureVision contact lens as continuous wear contact lens for therapeutic and medical indications in a prospective open-ended non-randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who required therapeutic contact lens wear for various indications such as pain relief, corneal protection, persistent epithelial defects, corneal perforation and chemical burns were fitted with PureVision continuous wear contact lenses (balafilcon A, 36% water content). Success or failure of specific treatment indication was assessed in each case with evaluation of ocular and lens related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 eyes of 28 patients were fitted with PureVision continuous wear contact lenses. A successful fit was seen in 27 of 30 eyes with therapeutic success in 26 of 30 eyes. However, all patients reported symptomatic relief. Duration of lens use ranged from 3 days to 3 months. Dry eye was the most frequent cause of contact lens associated therapeutic failure. Complications included lens loss (two eyes), tight lens (one eye) and infective keratitis (two eyes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PureVision contact lenses were found to be safe and efficacious for continuous wear therapeutic use to a maximum of 90 days. The contact lens was also easier to handle by virtue of its resilient nature. There were no significant corneal complications of hypoxia, i.e. corneal oedema. Lens losses and deposits were minimal. The lens performance and fitting characteristics compares favorably with previous therapeutic lenses used by the investigators. This new lens may be considered as a safe and effective alternative for use as bandage contact lens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Cornea Service, Guru Nanak Eye Center, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. aroraj@del3.vsnl.net.in
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Shailley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Usha Kaul
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.forename: Dinesh Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mehta