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 creates a circular indentation of the eye and thus may increase the anterior-posterior axial length. The myopia induced by encircling elements in retinal detachment surgery varies between 0 and 3 D. In a series of 25 patients, the average change in refraction after surgery was -2.25 D. To achieve early visual rehabilitation, patients were fitted with extended-wear soft contact lenses 7 to 10 days after surgery. The patients were followed for up to 6 months and contact lenses were exchanged according to changes in refraction. Visual rehabilitation using extended-wear lenses was immediate and excellent. The contact lenses were tolerated well. Two patients developed a minor corneal infiltrate under the soft lens and were withdrawn from the study.