R. Limbonsiong et al., EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF THE PROTEK (VIFILCON-A) THERAPEUTIC SOFT CONTACT-LENS AFTER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY, American journal of ophthalmology, 125(2), 1998, pp. 169-176
PURPOSE: To test the ProTek (Vifilcon A) therapeutic soft contact lens
in the alleviation of post-photorefractive keratectomy pain, its effe
ct on epithelial healing, and its safety, METHODS: Forty-seven consecu
tive eligible patients undergoing unilateral excimer laser photo refra
ctive keratectomy for myopia were randomly assigned to receive standar
d postoperative care with or without the use of a ProTek soft contact
lens, Patients prospectively graded a self-administered 5-point. scale
for pain and a 4-point scale for abnormal sensations at 4, 8, 12, 16,
and 20 hours after surgery, They also recorded the type and dose of a
ll medications taken during that time period. All patients were examin
ed on the first and third days after surgery. The lenses were worn con
tinuously for 3 days, RESULTS: The soft contact lens group (n = 24) di
sclosed a statistically significant (P <.05) reduction in pain intensi
ty and abnormal sensations that was greatest at 8, 12, 16, and 20 hour
s postoperatively, Compared with control patients (n = 23), the soft c
ontact: lens group showed significant cant decreased dependence on mos
t pain medications after the 12th hour (P <.05) and faster epithelial
healing (P =.03), However, one case of bacterial keratitis, two cases
of subepithelial infiltrates, and seven cases of contact lens intolera
nce were present in the soft contact lens group, CONCLUSIONS: The ProT
ek therapeutic soft contact lenses were effective in decreasing pain a
nd other related abnormal sensations after excimer photorefractive ker
atectomy, They decreased dependence on pain medications and hastened e
pithelial healing but were not well tolerated in some patients.