Corneal Neovascularization as a Result of Contact Lens Wear
Corneal neovascularization is the growth of new, fragile blood vessels
on the surface of the eye. These small blood vessels form just off the cornea on the sclera (white part of the eye) and can grow across the front of the eye potentially causing vision loss and damage to the eye.
While there are several conditions that can cause corneal neovascularization, one of the most common is contact lens wear. When contacts are worn for extended lengths of time, the front of the eye, or cornea, is starved of oxygen becoming hypoxic. The eye tries to compensate for this lack of oxygen by growing new, superficial blood vessels to carry the oxygen in from other areas of the eye.
Left unmanaged, extreme cases of corneal neovascularization are potentially blinding. If the blood vessels are allowed to grow into the central areas of the cornea they can damage and scar the tissues, skewing and sometimes preventing vision. Even with treatment of the condition, vision is not always completely restored.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reported in 2007 that approximately 24 million people in the United States alone wear contact lenses. This number is magnified when the remainder of the world is included. That places millions of people at risk for this potentially dangerous condition.
With the number of people at risk, the question is: how is the condition diagnosed, managed, and treated? Corneal neovascularization is diagnosed by an eye care professional during an eye exam. Often the blood vessels are too small to be seen without the aid of the slit lamp, or other magnifying device.
Since contact lens wearers are required to have a full eye exam at least once every two years, it is rare that the appearance of corneal neovascularization goes unnoticed, and therefore rarely can get to the stage where a person's vision is in jeopardy. For most cases of contact lens induced corneal neovascularization, the treatment is simple: reduction in time, or discontinuation of contact lens wear. Should, however, the condition progress to a point where basic management by removal of the contacts is not enough, treatments include the use of topical steroid eye drops, laser therapy, or in extreme cases, corneal graft surgery.
As with all eye conditions, corneal neovascularization should only be diagnosed and treated by an ophthalmic professional. Any questions or concerns regarding a person's individual risk should be addressed to their physician at the time of their yearly eye exam.
While there are several conditions that can cause corneal neovascularization, one of the most common is contact lens wear. When contacts are worn for extended lengths of time, the front of the eye, or cornea, is starved of oxygen becoming hypoxic. The eye tries to compensate for this lack of oxygen by growing new, superficial blood vessels to carry the oxygen in from other areas of the eye.
Left unmanaged, extreme cases of corneal neovascularization are potentially blinding. If the blood vessels are allowed to grow into the central areas of the cornea they can damage and scar the tissues, skewing and sometimes preventing vision. Even with treatment of the condition, vision is not always completely restored.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reported in 2007 that approximately 24 million people in the United States alone wear contact lenses. This number is magnified when the remainder of the world is included. That places millions of people at risk for this potentially dangerous condition.
With the number of people at risk, the question is: how is the condition diagnosed, managed, and treated? Corneal neovascularization is diagnosed by an eye care professional during an eye exam. Often the blood vessels are too small to be seen without the aid of the slit lamp, or other magnifying device.
Since contact lens wearers are required to have a full eye exam at least once every two years, it is rare that the appearance of corneal neovascularization goes unnoticed, and therefore rarely can get to the stage where a person's vision is in jeopardy. For most cases of contact lens induced corneal neovascularization, the treatment is simple: reduction in time, or discontinuation of contact lens wear. Should, however, the condition progress to a point where basic management by removal of the contacts is not enough, treatments include the use of topical steroid eye drops, laser therapy, or in extreme cases, corneal graft surgery.
As with all eye conditions, corneal neovascularization should only be diagnosed and treated by an ophthalmic professional. Any questions or concerns regarding a person's individual risk should be addressed to their physician at the time of their yearly eye exam.
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