The effects of hard contact lenses on intraocular lens calculations

Abstract

Corneal alterations from hard contact lens wear can have significant effects on the results of intraocular lens (IOL) calculation and this should be kept in mind in those patients who are candidates for lens implantation. Seven patients were studied during and two weeks after hard contact lens wear, showing an average increase of +0.79±1.05 (P < 0.05) in keratometry reading and an average decrease of -0.98 in emmetropic IOL calculations after discontinuing contact lens wear. Since the effect of hard contact lens wear on corneal curvature and resultant IOL calculations is variable and unpredictable, it is important that IOL calculations be made well after discontinuation of hard contact lens wear.