Bilateral Corneal Erosion Due To Retail Purchase of Unfitted Prescription Contact Lenses: A Case Report

Abstract

The dispensing and wear of prescription contact lenses without a proper selection and fit led to bilateral corneal erosions in this patient. Though our case occurred in Taiwan, a jurisdiction where prescription contact lens sale is not regulated, the authors note that such a scenario could occur in jurisdictions where contact lens sale is regulated if, after confirmation of back vertex power, no effort is made to ensure that a purchased lens is safe or appropriate for a patient, such as when lenses are purchased through internet suppliers or in certain commercial retail settings.

Review of Complications Associated With Contact Lenses From Unregulated Sources of Supply

“…This contrasted with the refractive CL wearers with whom three of four patients had noninfectious corneal complications, such as neovascularization, 28 corneal erosion, 38 and superficial corneal pigmented iron lines. Noninfectious complications were generally corneal and included iritis, descemetocele, corneal abrasions, chemical burns, and tight lens syndrome.…”

A review of cosmetic contact lens infections

“…Patients may neither be provided with adequate assessments or appropriate counselling [26,[46][47][48][49][50].…”

“…Wearers purchasing contact lenses from these supply routes are often not adequately assessed, counselled or instructed on safe contact lens wear practices or potential complications [26,[46][47][48][49][50].. These users are also less likely to be compliant with safe lens wear practices [51].…”

Cryopreservation in Ophthalmology

“…Corneal disease is one of the world's leading causes of blindness. Corneal scarring and haze due to various factors can affect vision, making corneal transplantation an important means of treatment for corneal diseases [35][36][37]. Advances in corneal preservation techniques have improved the survival rate of corneal grafts [38] and have largely contributed to the development of modern corneal transplant surgery [39].…”