title: Soft contact lens use for upper eyelid surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses in upper eyelid procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients (14 eyes) who had full thickness upper lid reconstruction were studied. PureVision contact lenses were placed on the eyes at the commencement of the surgery. To evaluate the effectiveness of soft contact lens use, we looked at comfort, conjunctival injection, chemosis, corneal abrasion, lid oedema, evidence of infection and speed of healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine eyes (64.29 per cent) were entirely asymptomatic. Three eyes developed corneal abrasions and changing the contact lenses led to resolution of the symptoms. One eye developed cloudy vision at one week due to accumulation of discharge behind the contact lens and another eye had foreign body sensation. Both had immediate relief with contact lenses removal. Mean duration of contact lens wear was 19.5 days (range, seven to 35 days). There were no cases of chemosis, infection, unexplained post-operative inflammation or delayed wound healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its limitations, our study suggests that a soft contact lens may be a useful option in upper lid surgery.
authors.affiliation: Wolverhampton & Midlands Counties Eye Infirmary, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. dramer_awan@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Muhammad Amer
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Awan
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musadiq
authors.forename: Soupramanien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandramouli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020034:Silicone Gels; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels