April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
The Effects of Short-Term Wear of High Oxygen Transmissible Soft and Rigid Contact Lenses, and Eye Rubbing on the Corneal Epithelium
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • I. Jalbert
    Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • G. Kalogeropoulos
    Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • S. Chang
    Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • T. Bolton
    Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  I. Jalbert, None; G. Kalogeropoulos, None; S. Chang, None; T. Bolton, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 6359. doi:
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      I. Jalbert, G. Kalogeropoulos, S. Chang, T. Bolton; The Effects of Short-Term Wear of High Oxygen Transmissible Soft and Rigid Contact Lenses, and Eye Rubbing on the Corneal Epithelium. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):6359.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To measure the effects of short-term high oxygen transmissible (Dk) soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens wear, and eye rubbing on basal epithelial appearance and epithelial thickness.

Methods: : Ten subjects were enrolled in a randomised cross over study. The subjects left eye was used as a control. The right eye either wore a high Dk soft, high Dk parallel fitted RGP lens for 6 hours or was rubbed with a finger for 10 minutes on three separate occasions. Epithelial basal cell regularity was assessed using in vivo confocal microscopy and a photographic grading scale. Epithelial thickness was measured at the centre and a peripheral point using modified optical pachometry.

Results: : Changes in epithelial basal cell regularity were not observed following short term wear of high Dk soft, RGP or rubbing (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p=1.00, p=0.08, p=0.08, respectively). Central and peripheral epithelial thickness remained unchanged (ANOVA, p>0.34).

Conclusions: : Short-term wear of high Dk soft and RGP lenses and eye rubbing do not cause visible alterations to basal epithelial cells, or central/peripheral epithelial thinning.

Keywords: contact lens • cornea: epithelium 
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