Vitamin E Added To Contact Lenses Extends Pain-Killing Effect Of Post-Surgery Anesthetics

An alternative to LASIK eye surgery known as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), which is often recommended for athletes and military personnel who have a higher risk of head trauma, nevertheless has a major downside: a longer period of post-surgical pain. But U.S. researchers have discovered that adding vitamin E to special PRK contact lenses containing anesthetics extended the time of release of the pain-killing drugs. The vitamin E acts as a barrier, keeping the anesthetics on the eye where they are needed for a longer time.