Illegal contact lens dispensing hot topic at SECO

ATLANTA – Numerous complications can be caused by contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescription, according to a presentation at an optometric meeting held here. Initial data from reports on a total of 116 incidents collected during 2003 were presented at the SECO International meeting.

Stinging was reported by 42% of the total respondents, followed by neovascularization/pannus in 37% and foreign body sensation in 36%.

Other signs and symptoms reported by patients included burning (35%), corneal edema (34%), corneal epithelial defect (29%), pain (29%), conjunctivitis (27%), corneal infiltrate (25%), ocular inflammation (24%), corneal distortion (22%), dry eye (22%), keratitis (22%), giant papillary conjunctivitis (19%), corneal ulcer (18%), itching (15%), discharge (13%), “other” (11%), corneal opacity (10%), blurred vision (5%) and iritis (2%).

The most common outcome for patients was short-term vision loss (22%), followed by “other” outcomes (10%), return to pre-incident status (7%), permanent vision loss (6%), permanent scarring (5%) and penetrating keratoplasty (less than 1%).

The study was conducted by the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry.