The use of essentially any medical device carries some risk, and the Morgan Lens is no exception. However, the Morgan Lens has an excellent safety record demonstrated by millions of uses and it has been repeatedly shown that the benefits of its use outweigh any residual risks.
It can be concerning to place a “large piece of plastic” on an already-injured eye. Worries of further injury, such as corneal abrasions, are not unjustified. But when used as directed, there is little risk of the Morgan Lens causing any damage to the eye. Instead, you will be assured that the eye is receiving the most effective treatment possible since the irrigating fluid is delivered directly to the injury and not just onto the closed eyelids.
It should be remembered that the Morgan Lens does not rest on the cornea like a contact lens, but instead floats on the irrigating solution that’s diluting and washing away any contaminants. A constant flow of fresh solution gently flushes all regions of the eye and conjunctiva, delivering oxygen to the cornea and cooling the irritated tissues. In addition, the cornea is protected from the painful and potentially damaging sweeping action of the eyelids. Patients are able to close their eyes, reducing the effects of photophobia and blepharospasms, and all of this combines to reduce stress and anxiety.
Any eye that has received a significant corneal insult (burns, foreign bodies, infections, etc.) will likely already have a corneal abrasion, and millions of these have been successfully treated using the Morgan Lens. The design of the lens ensures that it vaults the cornea, never touching it, and the fluid is directed into all the recesses of the eye, with the flow patterns constantly changing with every tiny movement, meaning that pooling can’t occur. The smooth inner surfaces of the closed eyelids are thoroughly flushed since there are none of the contaminant-trapping folds and pockets that form when the eyes are opened or the lids are retracted.
Dr. Morgan performed numerous fluorescein studies and never saw a corneal abrasion caused by the Morgan Lens. It should always be remembered, though, that misuse or improper handling of the Morgan Lens potentially could lead to minor corneal changes or slight abrasions, and prolonged irrigation with Normal Saline has been shown to cause corneal staining and discomfort (the reason MorTan recommends using lactated Ringer’s). Because of this, MorTan suggests that a qualified professional perform an ocular examination following any serious ocular injury once irrigation has been completed.