Soft contact lens complications Pt 2 Flashcards
how much of the eyes refractive power does the cornea account for
Approximately 2/3rd
where does the cornea gets its nutrients supply via and why
- via tears and aqueous humour
- because the cornea is avascular
list all the 7 forms of complications affecting the cornea caused by soft contact lenses
- staining
- microcysts
- epithelial wrinkling
- neovascularisation
- endothelial blebs
- oedema
- endothelial bedewing
how common is corneal staining in contact lens and non contact lens wearers
- up to 60% of CL wearers
- up to 35% in non CL wearers (e.g. from poor blinking or something in the eye)
describe the symptoms of corneal staining
- Can be asymptomatic, but depends on severity
- May affect CL tolerance, cause lacrimation
- Depending on location, may affect the vision (e.g. central, large and deep)
give 2 reasons why we should care about corneal staining
- When the epithelium is breached there is an increased chance of infection
- Can lead to scarring (esp if stroma is affected), which could affect the vision
list 4 ways a corneal staining can be described by
- Type
- Location
- Extent
- Depth
how many areas is the cornea decided up into and what can you represent from each area
- 5 areas
- type, extent, depth can be graded for each area
list 6 different types and 3 different aetiologies of corneal staining
Types:
- punctate
- coalesced
- confluent
- SMILE/desiccation
- 3 and 9 o’clock
- foreign body track/mechanical
Aetiologies:
- superior epithelial arcuate lesion SEAL
- mucin balls
- corneal abrasion
what is the outcome of a superficial (epithelial) scratch and a deeper injury to the cornea
- Can heal superficial (epithelial) scratches fast
- Deeper injuries can scar cornea, this leads to loss of
transparency and affect vision, or can just take longer to heal than superficial
where is a SMILE/desiccation stain located and what 3 things is it caused by
- inferiorly located caused by: - desiccation - drying - incomplete blink
where is solution induced corneal staining usually located and what is it caused by
- usually all over cornea
caused by: - toxicity
what is a 3 and 9 o’clock/desiccation corneal stain caused by
- desiccation
- Poor blinking/tear film
- Mechanical-lens characteristics
what type of staining is a foreign body track and what should you do when you see this
- Mechanical type (FB rubbing cornea under the CL)
- take the FB out and find out where it came from incase it has a microbe
what type of corneal staining is a superior epithelial arcuate lesion SEAL, how deep in the cornea can it reach, what may also be a factor of this staining and what is it associated with
- Mechanical-CL induced epithelial defect. Can involve
full epithelial thickness - Poor tear flow may also be a
factor - Associated with higher modulus (SiH) lenses and
tight eyelids
what is the prevalence of a superior epithelial arcuate lesion and what is the prevalence of it being unilateral and bilateral
- 2-10%
- unilateral (~80%) more common
- bilateral (~20%) less common
describe how a superior epithelial arcuate lesion is associated with higher modulus (SiH) lenses
The top eyelid is tight and so it pushes down the lens
- A tight eyelid also doesn’t let tears flow underneath and so debris gets trapped under the superior lens and also obstructs the tears entering
what are the 4 main symptoms of a Superior Epithelial Arcuate Lesion (SEAL) and explain why pain can be less common with this type of staining
- can be asymptomatic may report: - discomfort - irritation - burning - redness
pain is less common because superior peripheral cornea is less sensitive than the centre
what is the management for a Superior Epithelial Arcuate Lesion (SEAL)
- Cease lens wear – this reduces the chance of infection and also helps remove the cause and allow the cornea to heal
- Wait ~1 wk
- SEALs can reoccur
- Refit with lower modulus lens, alter lens fit, or consider RGPs (if recurrent)
what is the cause of mucin balls, what size do they tend to be and what does it do to the cornea
- Mucin from pre-ocular tear film/post lens tear film rolls up into balls as the px moves the eyes from blinking, the CL moves
- ~10-50μm
- does not move with the lens
- The mucin balls indent cornea and stains with flourescein
what is mucin balls associated with, what are the risks and what are the symptoms
- Associated with SiH/Higher
modulus materials - not a risk of infection as cornea is just indented
- usually asymptomatic
what is the management of mucin ball corneal staining
- Remove lens
- Refit with a lower modulus lens
- Reduce no. of nights lens worn
which type of lens is mucin balls most common with
extended wear lenses
which type of corneal staining is serious and why
- corneal abrasion
- because the cornea is compromised
- if it scars, it can affect vision permanently if it crosses the line of sight
what may a corneal abrasion be caused by with SCLs and when may it be asymptomatic
- by fingernails during lens insertion/removal or by lens imperfections
- if very superficial, px may be
asymptomatic
what is the management is corneal staining caused by a corneal abrasion is seen
- Assess depth and extent
- Cease lens wear
- Give advice about infection and symptoms
- May need to use lubricants
- May require prophylactic antibiotic
- Book px in for review
when seeing corneal staining in a patients’ eye, in general, what 2 things will you do and list 4 things of what you will have the patient do in the mean time
- Assess depth and extent
- Book px in for review
In the meantime:
- Cease lens wear
- May need to use lubricants
- May require prophylactic antibiotic
- When resuming lens wear- advise fresh pair of lenses
what is microcysts due to, what shape are they and what are they described as
- Due to hypoxia
- Circular shape
- Superficial epithelial vesicles - from an accumulation of rubbish
which type of soft contact lenses are microcysts mostly associated with and not seen with
- more associated with low oxygen transmissibility soft lenses
- not seen with daily wear lenses
where abouts in the eye are microcysts seen and what does this mean
- seen within the epithelium
- hence no staining with flourescein
how do microcysts appear to look if they break through the epithelium, how is this shown in slit lamp and why
- appear as black dots
- show reversed illumination
- because they have a higher refractive index than their surround
what are vacuoles filled with, what are they due to, where in the eye are they found and how are they shown in slit lamp
- fluid filled = focal mini oedemas
- due to chronic hypoxia
- usually found in mid peripheral cornea
- do not show reversed illumination - are fluid filled and have lower refractive index than surround