title: Corneal changes following short-term miniscleral contact lens wear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of short-term miniscleral contact lens wear on corneal shape, thickness and anterior surface aberrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scheimpflug imaging was captured before, immediately following and 3h after a short period (3h) of miniscleral contact lens wear for 10 young (mean 27±5 years), healthy participants. Natural diurnal variations were considered by measuring baseline diurnal changes obtained on a separate control day without contact lens wear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small but significant anterior corneal flattening was observed immediately following lens removal (overall mean 0.02±0.03mm, p<0.001) which returned to baseline levels 3h after lens removal. During the 3h recovery period significant corneal thinning (-13.4±10.5μm) and posterior surface flattening (0.03±0.02mm) were also observed (both p<0.01). The magnitude of posterior corneal flattening during recovery correlated with the amount of corneal thinning (r=0.69, p=0.03). Central corneal clearance (maximum tear reservoir depth) was not associated with corneal swelling following lens removal (r=-0.24, p>0.05). An increase in lower-order corneal astigmatism Z(2,2) was also observed following lens wear (mean -0.144±0.075μm, p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flattening of the anterior corneal surface was observed immediately following lens wear, while 'rebound' thinning and flattening of the posterior surface was evident following the recovery period. Modern miniscleral contact lenses that vault the cornea may slightly influence corneal shape and power but do not induce clinically significant corneal oedema during short-term wear.
authors.affiliation: Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Electronic address: sj.vincent@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alonso-Caneiro
authors.affiliation: Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Corneal aberrations; Corneal thickness; Corneal topography; Miniscleral contact lens; Post-lens tear layer