Characterizing Contact Lens-Related Corneal Infiltrates: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Imaging
• Contact Lens Complications

Background:

• Contact lens wear is associated with corneal infiltrative events (CIEs).
• Accurate monitoring of CIEs is crucial for timely management and preventing complications.
• Traditional methods like slit-lamp examination have limitations in objective quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (AS-OCT) with slit-lamp imaging for documenting the time course and resolution of contact lens-related CIEs.
• To evaluate AS-OCT as a tool for assessing scar formation post-CIE resolution.

Main Methods:

• Six silicone hydrogel soft contact lens wearers with symptomatic CIEs were monitored using slit-lamp images and AS-OCT.
• Visual acuity and subjective symptoms were recorded throughout the study.
• Controls included wearers with established scars and clear corneas.

Main Results:

• Clinical signs, visual acuity, and symptoms resolved concurrently with CIE resolution, as evidenced by both imaging modalities.
• Calibrated measurements of infiltrate width using AS-OCT were comparable to those obtained from slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
• AS-OCT provided objective data on CIE resolution and scar formation.

Conclusions:

• AS-OCT is a valuable tool for characterizing the development, progression, and resolution of corneal infiltrates.
• It offers an objective measure for assessing CIE resolution and subsequent scar formation.
• Further research is needed to standardize AS-OCT procedures for CIE assessment.