Commercially available rigid gas-permeable contact lens for protecting the cornea from drying during vitrectomy with a wide viewing system

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of commercially available materials for protecting the cornea from drying during vitrectomy with a wide-angle viewing system. METHODS: Three vitreoretinal surgeons evaluated fundus visibility during vitrectomy on the images of five study materials used on the cornea: balanced saline solution, a viscoelastic agent, a vitrectomy contact lens, a rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens, and a soft contact lens. Fundus visibility was graded using the following scale: grade 1, unclear; grade 2, slightly unclear; grade 3, clear; and grade 4, very clear. RESULTS: Respective scores for each material used during core vitrectomy and membrane removal were: balanced saline solution, 3.3/3.3; viscoelastic agent, 3.8/3.3; vitrectomy contact lens, 3.3/4.0; RGP contact lens, 4.0/3.9; soft contact lens, 1.1/not applicable. CONCLUSION: The RGP contact lens provided visibility similar to or clearer than that obtained with other methods. Because of its ease of use and lower cost, use of the RGP contact lens is ideal during vitrectomy performed with a wide-angle viewing system.