Hollow bandage contact lens

OBJECTIVE: To report on the use of a new bandage contact lens (BCL) for a leaking filtering bleb. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hollow BCL, with an internal central opening of 6 mm, has been applied on three eyes that had leaking blebs shortly after either trabeculectomy or combined cataract extraction and trabeculectomy, each with a fornix-based conjunctival flap. RESULTS: The treatment with this lens was found beneficial: the leakage subsided and the patients were comfortable with the lens. The internal hollow of the BCL enabled us to monitor the intraocular pressure throughout the entire follow-up period without transient and repeated removal of the BCL. CONCLUSION: The new hollow BCL was found efficacious. The study suggests that this lens may have advantages over the commonly used BCLs that are related to the elimination of the need for its frequent removal and reinsertion for tonometry. This decreases the risk of both the exposure of the lens and the filtering bleb to contamination and the interference with the continuity of the process of conjunctival epithelial closure.