What about extended-wear soft contact lenses?

Abstract

A group from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, has tested use of both the artificial intraocular lens and the soft contact lens after cataract removal. Basically, said Walter J. Stark, MD, director of the corneal service at the university's Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, the resulting vision with the soft contact lenses was as good as with the intraocular lenses. Furthermore, Stark told a Research to Prevent Blindness seminar, increased incidence of inflammation has been seen recently after intraocular lens insertion. He suggests this may be due to the current method of lens sterilization in this country, involving use of ethylene oxide rather than sodium hydroxide. Additional information came from H. Dwight Cavanagh, MD, PhD, professor and chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta. He said that, for the first time, "a newly developed third generation of soft contact lenses represents a safe, reliable, and effective