Therapeutic contact lenses in eyelid and conjunctival disease

There are many circumstances for which a therapeutic soft contact lens is indicated. In particular, there are a number of eyelid and conjunctival diseases which can be helped significantly by the use of a therapeutic lens. Many of these patients have problems which make wearing a soft contact lens more difficult; however, the benefits can usually outweigh the disadvantages. In Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, entropion, trichiasis, ocular burns, and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, the use of a therapeutic contact lens may be indicated. Their use in these conditions is discussed along with problems associated with each disease state.