Therapeutic contact lenses are useful in a variety of ocular surface disorders. Their efficacy was evaluated in 40 consecutive patients presenting for therapeutic contact lens fitting for pain due to depressed surface disorders (14 patients), raised surface disorders (11 patients), corneal decompensation (7 patients), trauma (5 patients), and disorders of corneal wetting (3 patients). The therapeutic contact lens was successfully fit and worn, with achievement of the therapeutic objective in 37 of the 40 patients. Corneal wetting disorders and corneal decompensation require only intermediate-term contact lens wear. Thus, therapeutic contact lenses are usually effective for relief of pain due to corneal surface disorders.