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The efficacy of a UV‐blocking soft contact lens in protecting cornea against UV radiation
Author(s) -
Bergmanson Jan P. G.,
Pitts Donald G.,
Chu Lena WF
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1987.tb08506.x
Subject(s) - cornea , contact lens , keratitis , lens (geology) , ophthalmology , effects of long term contact lens wear on the cornea , corneal epithelium , ultraviolet , medicine , stroma , ultraviolet radiation , materials science , optics , chemistry , optoelectronics , pathology , physics , immunohistochemistry , radiochemistry
. Recently, it has been shown that UV keratitis is more serious than previously thought because it is not limited to the corneal epithelium but also involves the stroma and the endothelium. It is, therefore, very important to avoid ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage, and the purpose of the present study was to examine the ability of a UV absorbing hydrogel lens to filter such wavelengths. Ultrastructural observations of rabbit corneas showed that a regular soft (Vistamarc normal) contact lens offered no protection, and since wearing one adds stress to the cornea it seems possible that the cornea may be more vulnerable to UVR trauma. A UV absorbing soft contact lens (Vistakon UV‐BLOC) provided complete protection to all corneal layers. Subepithelial nerve fibres in the traumatized corneas were mostly of normal morphology and may explain why UV keratitis is a very painful experience. It was concluded that a UV absorbing soft contact lenses with acceptable clinical performance may be prescribed on a routine basis.