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Corneal topographic alterations in normal contact lens wearers
J Ruiz-Montenegro1, C H Mafra, S E Wilson
1Department of Opthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9057.
Ophthalmology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Contact lens wear, especially rigid lenses, can cause corneal topographic changes in asymptomatic individuals. Computer-assisted analysis is crucial for detecting these alterations before refractive surgery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Corneal Physiology
Background:
- Contact lenses are widely used for refractive correction.
- Understanding their impact on corneal topography is essential for eye health.
- Asymptomatic changes may go undetected without advanced analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare corneal topography in contact lens wearers (rigid and soft) versus non-wearers.
- To identify potential topographic alterations associated with different contact lens types.
- To assess the prevalence of these changes in visually normal eyes.
Main Methods:
- Slit-lamp examination, keratometry, and computer-assisted topographic analysis were performed.
- Refraction and rigid contact lens over-refraction were conducted.
- Study included 37 normal corneas and 74 corneas from asymptomatic contact lens wearers (rigid and soft lenses).
Main Results:
- Topographic abnormalities were more frequent and severe with rigid contact lenses.
- Some daily-wear and extended-wear soft contact lenses also induced significant changes.
- Rigid lens wear correlated with corneal flattening beneath decentered lenses, impacting visual acuity in some cases.
Conclusions:
- Corneal topographic alterations are common in asymptomatic contact lens wearers.
- Computer-assisted topographic analysis is vital for detecting these subtle changes.
- Excluding topographic abnormalities is critical before considering refractive surgery in contact lens wearers.