EFFECTS OF NEWLY DESIGNED PHOTOCHROMIC SENOFILCON A CONTACT LENS ON WOUND HEALING AND PAIN CONTROL AFTER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY

Pain control is an important treatment step after a surface ablaton procedure. Senofilcon A photochromic contact lenses (PCL) have recently been approved by FDA in order to prevent the complaints about bright lights. Studies with PCL have shown positive effects on visual functions. However, there is no study showing the effect of bandage contact lens on wound healing and pain control after Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). In this study, it was aimed to show the effect of Senofilcon A PCL bandage contact lens after PRK on corneal wound healing and pain control.

In the department of Refractive Surgery Clinic at the Kayseri City Hospital

In this randomized clinical study, 64 eyes of 32 patients who had PRK surgery were evaluated. At the end of the surgery, senofilcon A CL (Acuvue Oasys, Group1) was worn in one eye of the patients, and senofilcon A PCL (Acuvue Oasys Transition, Group2) in the other eye. Epithelial defect area (EDA) was measured for both eyes on Day 1 and Week 1. At the same time, patients' pain, watering, photophobia, and foreign body sensation were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) (0=absent; 10=highest level).

EDA was similar in both groups at all postoperative visits (p=0.996, p=0.574, p=0.762 for all visits, respectively). Mean pain score and watering score were similar in both groups at all visits (p=0.949, p=0.525, p=0.458 and p=0.680, p=0.529, p=0.428). The mean photophobia score was higher in Group1 in the first two visits. it was found similar at last visit (p=0.001, p=0.016, p=0.562). The mean foreign body sensation score was higher in Group2 at the first two visits and similar at the last visit (p=0.005, p=0.001, p=0.236).

It was found that after PRK, PCL gave similar results in wound healing with the lens of the same material. While pain control and watering were similar in both lenses, it was shown that patients with PCL were less affected by lights, but experienced more foreign body sensation.