Specular microscopy studies on the corneal endothelium after cessation of contact lens wear.
We performed specular microscopy on the corneal endothelium of 22 long-term hard contact lens wearers (15-32 years duration) and 22 age- and sex-matched controls. We found polymegethism in users as shown by a significant difference in the coefficient of variation in cell area (p less than 0.01) and pleomorphism as shown by a significant decrease in the percent of 6-sided cells (hexagonality, p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference in cell density and mean cell area between the 2 groups. Contact lens wear was discontinued in five eyes of three patients after they were entered into the study and switched to eye-glasses. Specular micrographs were taken up to 60 months after discontinuation of use of the lenses. Comparison of the above parameters before and after discontinuation of the lenses did not show a significant change. However, there was a trend toward improvement in the coefficient of variation in the eyes that were followed the longest. This finding suggests that the morphological changes induced by long-term use of contact lenses may be slowly reversible after prolonged discontinuation of contact lens wear.
National Eye Institute Clinical Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
M E
ME
Sibug
M B
MB
Datiles
K
K
Kashima
L
L
McCain
G
G
Kracher
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D008768:Methylmethacrylates