title: Preoperative screening of contact lens wearers before refractive surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate corneal stability, measured by computerized videokeratography (CVK) after discontinuation of contact lens wear in preoperative refractive surgery candidates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute, Houston, Texas, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Topographic differences were analyzed in 136 noncontact lens wearers (NCLW) and 76 contact lens wearers (CLW) (18 rigid gas-permeable contact lenses [RGPCL], 58 soft contact lenses [SCL]) using EyeSys CVK after discontinuation of SCL wear for 2 weeks and RGPCL wear for 5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in CVK patterns between the NCLW and the CLW groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in topographic symmetry, asphericity, corneal uniformity index, predicted corneal acuity, and irregular astigmatism. The dioptric range for the axial and the profile difference maps in the CLW group was slightly lower than in the NCLW group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients whose manifest refraction and CVK maps were within 0.5 diopters of earlier values, discontinuation of SCL wear for 2 weeks and RGPCL wear for 5 weeks was adequate for the cornea to return to its baseline topographic state.
authors.affiliation: Cullen Eye institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Budak
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies