Placement and Removal of Bandage Contact Lens
Alexander Martin, OD
Boston Vision

Contact lens insertion and removal proficiency is paramount to successful resolution in several sight-threatening ocular conditions. With contact lenses so often being the culprit for corneal ulcers, it may seem counterintuitive to use them as a Band-Aid. However, in many cases of ocular trauma such as corneal abrasion and foreign body removal, a bandage contact lens along with topical antibiotics is an advisable form of treatment. Bandage contact lenses are also heavily utilized in surgical refractive procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and epi-off corneal cross-linking. There are many new advances in bandage contact lens technology such as contact lenses eluted with antibiotics, steroids, and amniotic tissues for managing both chronic and acute ocular conditions.