title: Effectiveness of bandage contact lens application in corneal epithelialization and pain alleviation following corneal transplantation; prospective, randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the efficacy of bandage contact lens (BCL) application to promote epithelialization and alleviate pain following corneal transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six consecutive patients who underwent corneal transplantation were randomly assigned to undergo BCL application (BCL group, n = 14) or no BCL application (control group, n = 12) at the end of the surgery. Corneal epithelialization was analyzed by photography using fluorescein staining, and ocular pain was measured using a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean size of the epithelial defect relative to the graft area in the BCL group was 21.80 ± 35.10 % at the end of surgery, 18.20 ± 31.10 % on postoperative day 1, and 5.45 ± 11.10 % on postoperative days 3 to 5. These values in the control group were 9.64 ± 17.60 % at the end of surgery, 11.50 ± 25.70 % on postoperative day 1, and 0.00 ± 0.00 % on postoperative days 3 to 5. There were no significant differences in the speed of epithelialization between the two groups. The mean preoperative pain score in the BCL group was slightly higher than that control (4.27 ± 1.96 vs. 2.41 ± 2.18, respectively; P = 0.039). The scores significantly increased on postoperative day 1 and promptly returned to preoperative levels by day 7 in both groups, and there were no significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant benefits of BCL application at the time of corneal transplantation were observed in this study. The efficacy and safety of BCLs in eyes with compromised epithelialization require further study.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN 000019091 . Date of registration: 2015/09/22.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan. jun@eyebank.or.jp.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shigeyasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saijo-Ban
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dogru
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Seika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Den
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Bandage contact lens; Corneal epithelium; Corneal transplantation; Pain