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Corneal conjunctivalisation in long-standing contact lens wearers
1IOBA Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Department of Theoretical Physics, Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics and Optics, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. raul@ioba.med.uva.es
Clinical & Experimental Optometry
|December 21, 2006
Summary
Contact lens wear can lead to corneal conjunctivalisation, a condition affecting stem cells, even in asymptomatic individuals. Early detection by optometrists is crucial for managing this contact lens complication.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Science
- Ocular Surface Disease
Background:
- Contact lens wear is associated with various ocular surface disorders.
- Damage to the limbal region can impair corneal stem cells, leading to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
- Corneal conjunctivalisation (CC) is a key indicator of LSCD in contact lens wearers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics of long-term contact lens wearers presenting with corneal conjunctivalisation.
- To describe the presentation of CC in patients without pre-existing conditions known to cause LSCD.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 591 contact lens clinical histories was conducted over one year (March 2004-March 2005).
- The study included both new and review patients, focusing on those with diagnosed corneal conjunctivalisation.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four eyes of 14 myopic patients (93% female) exhibited CC without other known causes of LSCD.
- Conjunctivalisation was observed in the inferior limbus in 12% of affected eyes.
- Most patients (71.4%) were asymptomatic, with a mean spherical equivalent of -8.80 D and average 17.6 years of daily contact lens wear.
Conclusions:
- Corneal conjunctivalisation can occur as a complication of contact lens wear, even in asymptomatic patients.
- Optometrists play a vital role in the early diagnosis, patient education, and management of contact lens-related complications like CC.
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