Time to resolution of corneal edema after long-term contact lens wear.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate corneal thickness changes after soft contact lens (SCL) removal in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) candidates.


METHODS
Observational case series.


METHODS
A total of 100 eyes daily wearing SCL for at least six months were evaluated. The central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by pachymetry immediately after lens removal and then repeated daily until it became stable.


RESULTS
CCT immediately after lens removal was 557.4 +/- 32 microm, and when edema completely resolved was 521.8 +/- 25 microm. Corneal edema required two to 15 days after discontinuation of SCL wear to resolve. Corneal thickness stabilized in 74% of patients within the first week and in 26% of patients during the second week. Older patients and more primary corneal edema needed longer time to recover (P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Discontinuing SCL wear at least 15 days before keratorefractive surgery is recommended to achieve accurate pachymetry.
Nourouzi
Hamid
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Imam Hossein Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Rajavi
Jaleh
J
Okhovatpour
Mohamad Ali
MA
D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography