Contact Lens Complications.

As of 1984, there were approximately 16 million contact lens wearers in the United States. By 1986, there were over 20 million, and the number is still growing such that projections reach 45-90 million wearers by the year 2000. Along with the growing population of contact lens wearers comes a growing number of ocular complications secondary to contact lens wear. Therefore, differential diagnosis and management of contact-lens-related
pathology is as important to successful contact lens practice as knowledge of proper fitting techniques. Although a well fitting lens is less likely to cause complications than a poorly fitting lens, there are, unfortunately, many other variables involved in the etiologies of contact-lensinduced problems. In fact, the only other factor in which the optometrist plays a role is in the responsibility of patient education regarding proper hygiene and habits of the contact lens care regimen. All the other variables depend solely upon the patient, his compliance with the care regimen, and the idiosyncracies of his own body and immune system. We all know how
dependable many patients are when it comes to compliance, and we also know how varied indiviual reactions to solutions, wear schedule, and contact lens wear itself can be. So, contact lens complications are going to occur, and we must be able to properly diagnose and manage them. What follows, then, is a guide intended to aid the clinician in recognizing which complication has presented itself (along with the patient ) and instigating the proper treatment.