PALPEBRAL IMPLANTATION (MIGRATION) OF A H ARD CONTACT-LENS - A RARE COMPLICATION IN CONTACTOLOGY

Purpose To demonstrate a rare complication in contactology. Case repor t A 26-year-old female had ''lost'' her hard contact lens in the right eye 2 years previously. Afterwards, new contact lenses were not toler ated. The patient had a slight intermittent epiphora bur no further co mplaints, She consulted her ophthalmologist for new spectacles. At pre sentation, there was a firm tumour without signs of inflammation in th e right upper lid area. Then the lid was everted a hard contact lens w as found within the tarsal plate which could be easily removed in the operating room. Microbiologic investigation disclosed no bacteria. His tology showed a circumscribed papillary reaction and a chronic non-spe cific inflammation with few eosinophils and no giant cells. Two weeks later the lens-related cavity was only slightly filled up by granulati on tissue. Conclusions After ''loss'' of a contact lens superior dislo cation and finally tarsal implantation should be kept in mind. The pro cess of contact lens migration reveals same interesting features: 1. G enerally, it causes only minor symptoms though it may last fur years. 2. Bacterial contamination rarely occurs. 3. Histologically, the infla mmation is often milder even absent. Eosinophils and giant cells are o f minor or no importance indicating that allergy and giant-cell reacti on play no significant role. 4. The lens related cavity probably heals slowly, possibly because of a (partial) epithelialization.