Oculocardiac reflex caused by contact lenses

PURPOSE: To report two cases of patients who fell unconscious because of the oculocardiac reflex when attempting to wear contact lenses. CASE REPORTS: Case 1: A 15-year-old healthy boy came to our clinic to be fitted with contact lenses. As soon as a hard contact lens was inserted forcibly, he became unconscious. Case 2: A 22-year-old man fell unconscious the instant that the eye was compressed with a hard contact lens. Neither patient had used glasses or contact lenses before. Their blood pressure was decreased while unconscious. They recovered consciousness after about 10 min, and nausea and vomiting settled subsequently. Contact lens insertion was tried again carefully after 1 week avoiding compression of the eyes and there were no problems. They are currently using contact lenses without any problems. CONCLUSION: Insertion of contact lenses may rarely provoke the oculocardiac reflex.