title: Scanning electron microscopy of corneal epithelium in soft contact lens wearers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess differences in corneal epithelium features between soft contact lens (CL) wearers and non-CL wear control.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, the corneal epithelium removed before photorefractive keratectomy in 10 soft CL wearers (10 eyes) and in 10 non-CL wearers (10 eyes) was evaluated with SEM. The aim of the study was to assess ultrastructural differences in corneal epithelium between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was present between the 2 groups as concerns the number of microvilli (P = 0.19). An amount of epithelial mucus >20% was detected in 20% of soft CL wearers and in 80% of non-CL wearers (P = 0.01). A good tolerance to CL was referred by CL wearers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant reduction of epithelial mucus at SEM evaluation was present in the CL wearers even in absence of complaints referred to CL.
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. raifor@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Raimondo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cesarano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Prete
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult