PURPOSE: To investigate the occurrence of acquired blepharoptosis in contact lens wearers. METHODS: Prospective analysis of 50 contact lens wearers being followed at the Contact Lenses Section of the Ophthalmology Service at the "Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre" between April and November 2004. The margin reflex distance (MRD) was evaluated for the 99 eyelids of contact lens wearers and for the 52 eyelids of controls. A patient whose measurement was less than 2 mm or with an assymetry of margin reflex distance greater or equal to 2 mm were considered with blepharoptosis. The contact lens type and duration of contact lenses wear were evaluated. RESULTS: Five patients presented ptosis, all of them were hard contact lens wearers, one had bilateral and four had unilateral ptosis. The study shows that the contact lens wearers had the margin reflex distance 0.88 mm smaller than the non-wearers. The margin reflex distance values decreased progressively in the studied groups: controls, gelatinous contact lens wearers and rigid contact lens wearers. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that contact lens wearers have alterations in the margin reflex distance values, especially the rigid contact lens wearers.
Blepharoptosis; Contact lenses
