Biomaterial Database

Complications of hard and soft contact lenses. 1985

C C Kok-van Alphen, and B C Polak

The number of contact lenses worn has increased steadily in the last decades. The number and types of complications have increased in approximately the same degree. New, hitherto unknown, complications are continually described. The complications are classified according to the factors which cause them: complications of mechanical origin; complications due to metabolic disorders; allergic reactions; exogenous infections; disorders of tear production. The lesions found in the cornea and the conjunctiva are described. The complications caused by hard lenses are usually noticed earlier by the patient than those due to soft lenses, because the lesions caused by hard lenses are usually painful, whereas those due to soft lenses are not.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007239	Infections	Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases.	Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D007634	Keratitis	Inflammation of the cornea.	Keratitides
D008659	Metabolic Diseases	Generic term for diseases caused by an abnormal metabolic process. It can be congenital due to inherited enzyme abnormality (METABOLISM, INBORN ERRORS) or acquired due to disease of an endocrine organ or failure of a metabolically important organ such as the liver. (Stedman, 26th ed)	Thesaurismosis,Diseases, Metabolic,Disease, Metabolic,Metabolic Disease,Thesaurismoses
D003231	Conjunctivitis	INFLAMMATION of the CONJUNCTIVA.	Pink Eye,Conjunctivitides,Pink Eyes
D003261	Contact Lenses	Lenses designed to be worn on the front surface of the eyeball. (UMDNS, 1999)	Lenses, Contact,Contact Lens,Lens, Contact
D003263	Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic	Soft, supple contact lenses made of plastic polymers which interact readily with water molecules. Many types are available, including continuous and extended-wear versions, which are gas-permeable and easily sterilized.	Lenses, Contact, Hydrophilic,Soft Contact Lenses,Hydrophilic Contact Lens,Soft Contact Lens,Contact Lens, Hydrophilic,Contact Lens, Soft,Contact Lenses, Soft,Hydrophilic Contact Lenses,Lens, Hydrophilic Contact,Lens, Soft Contact,Lenses, Hydrophilic Contact,Lenses, Soft Contact
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001251	Astigmatism	Unequal or irregular curvature of the CORNEA (Corneal astigmatism) and/or the EYE LENS (Lenticular astigmatism) resulting in REFRACTIVE ERROR.	Corneal Astigmatism,Hyperopic Astigmatism,Lenticular Astigmatism,Mixed Astigmatism,Myopic Astigmatism,Oblique Astigmatism,Astigmatism, Corneal,Astigmatism, Hyperopic,Astigmatism, Lenticular,Astigmatism, Mixed,Astigmatism, Myopic,Astigmatism, Oblique,Hyperopic Astigmatisms,Mixed Astigmatisms,Myopic Astigmatisms,Oblique Astigmatisms