CL as a bleph bandage

[RobLIC]

Bleph/MGD post-LASIK here. Who can expand a little for me on why it hurts when the lid touches the eye ... but less if you lift the lid off the eye. And less if you put a contact lens between the two? Are there others who simply use a soft contact lens as a bleph "bandage," even though they don't need it for vision purposes? Thanks, Rob

[Sammy B.]

I have not used any sort of bandage contact lenses so I am not the right person to answer that one, but I am wondering - do you have dry spots on your corneas? Sometimes this is called SPK. If so, I think that would explain why the lid is irritated when it comes down over the eye. Or, it could be a measly tear film breaking up and your eye is "feeling that" after a blink?

- Rose

[calli66]

The cornea has lots of nerves---corneal injuries are one of the most painful. If the surface of the eye is inflamed and dry, there's no protective layer of tears between the surface and the lid. This means pain and sometimes the underside of the lid will stick to the cornea. Then little sections of cornea will rip away, which causes the most excruciating pain.

A soft contact bandage lens prevents this, allowing the lid to slide over the lens, not your sensitive eye surface. It's not a long term solution, though, because soft lenses are easily contaminated and cause more dryness or inflammation if worn for long periods. As a bandage, they have to be lubricated often, which obscures vision.

C

[RobLIC]

Thanks, all. Folks, please allow me to clarify this post: my question refers only to lid inflammation - not eye surface inflammation. My eye surface/membranes are fine - no stain or erosions. This is a bleph/MGD issue, and I'm asking if anyone is using a soft lens for lid pain management. Thanks. R.