The Use of Bandage Contact Lens for Epithelial Healing in Corneal Epithelial Defect

Context:Corneal epithelial defect cause pain that leads to significant subjective complain, severe morbidity, and medical leave. Management of uncomplicated corneal epithelial defect using bandage contact lens (BCL) has many advantages compare to the pressure patching (traditional treatment). The use of BCL as an alternative therapy in uncomplicated epithelial defect is not yet declare as a standard protocol of treatment. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of bandage contact lens use in patients with corneal epithelial defect compared to pressure patching in term of level of comfort, visual acquity, and wound healing period. Methods and Material: The literature search was conducted from online database. All relevant studies were reviewed based on Level of Evidence developed by Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence 2011. The articles were divided into baseline characteristics and outcomes table. Details regarding the author, year of publication, level of evidence, number of samples, age, gender, follow up duration were recorded. Results: Six out of seven studies concluded that BCL is the better treatment for corneal abrasion due to trauma or related to ocular surface surgery. Four systematic reviews did not recommend pressure patching as corneal epithelial defect treatment. Conclusions: BCL was found to be superior in treating corneal abrasion compared to pressure patching. The BCL group showed significantly faster healing time, pain level reduction, and epithelial defect size reduction compare to the pressure patching group.