EFFECT OF EYE PATCHING ON OCULAR SURFACE

We studied the effect of pressure patching in 27 medical students. Fou rteen students had pressure patching in one eye (group 1) and 13 (grou p 2) had light patching. The fellow eye of each volunteer remained unp atched (group 3). Clinical signs and symptoms were scored and evaluate d at the first and the following (after overnight) examinations. Befor e patching no subject had any of the clinical signs or symptoms. After the patch was removed in groups 1 and 2, all except one volunteer in each group had clinical signs or symptoms, or both, whereas in group 3 , none had clinical signs or symptoms. Group 1 had greater scores for clinical signs (P = .019) and for symptoms (P = .038) as compared to g roup 2. In group 1, two participants did not complete the study period (by removal of the patch) because of severe discomfort and three had temporary irregularities in corneal surface with temporary decrease of vision. We suggest that pressure patching may cause discomfort and ch anges in visual acuity that are usually attributed to other reasons.