CHANGES IN REFRACTION AFTER RETINAL-DETACHMENT SURGERY CORRECTED BY EXTENDED WEAR CONTACT-LENSES FOR EARLY VISUAL REHABILITATION

The encircling band used in conventional retinal detachment surgery cr eates a circular indentation of the eye and thus may increase the ante rior-posterior axial length. The myopia induced by encircling elements in retinal detachment surgery varies between 0 and 3 D. In a series o f 25 patients, the average change in refraction after surgery was -2.2 5 D. To achieve early visual rehabilitation, patients were fitted with extended-wear soft contact lenses 7 to 10 days after surgery. The pat ients were followed for up to 6 months and contact lenses were exchang ed according to changes in refraction. Visual rehabilitation using ext ended-wear lenses was immediate and excellent. The contact lenses were tolerated well. Two patients developed a minor corneal infiltrate und er the soft lens and were withdrawn from the study.