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Intersubject variability in corneal swelling response to anoxia
Acta Ophthalmologica
|June 1, 1986
Summary
Human subjects show significant differences in corneal swelling due to oxygen deprivation (anoxia). This variability explains differences in responses to contact lens wear, confirming oxygen deprivation as the primary cause.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Physiology
- Anoxia Research
Background:
- Previous studies suggested intersubject variability in corneal edema response to hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) lenses.
- The exact cause of this variability, whether oxygen deprivation or other physiological factors, remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intersubject differences in corneal swelling response to anoxia.
- To determine if oxygen deprivation is the primary factor causing variability in corneal edema response to HEMA lenses.
Main Methods:
- A controlled, double-masked, randomized experiment was performed on 9 human subjects.
- Subjects were exposed to humidified nitrogen gas (anoxia) for 3 hours to induce corneal swelling.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant intersubject variability in corneal swelling was observed (P < 0.001).
- Corneal edema ranged from a mean of 3.6% to 7.3% after 3 hours of anoxia.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms significant intersubject variability in corneal swelling response to anoxia.
- These findings support the hypothesis that oxygen deprivation, not other physiological variables, causes intersubject differences in corneal edema response to HEMA lenses.