Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To investigate cell proliferation of the normal corneal epithelium and during extended reverse geometric lens and rigid gas-permeable(RGP) lens wear Methods:Six New Zealand White rabbits were fitted with the right eye RGL, with the other eye hyper-Dk/t RGP lens. Four rabbits killed: 1 day, 1, 3, and 4 weeks after lens fitting. Two rabbits were removed lenses 4 weeks after fitting and killed: 2 and 4weeks. They were injected with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) 15-hours before killing and corneas were processed for immunocytochemistry, and sequential histopathologic images were taken from the limbus to the central epithelium. The total number of BrdU-labeled cell pairs was quantified. Results: Both RGP lens and RGL had no effect on endothelium and keratocyte. Central epithelial proliferation rather than peripheral proliferation in Both lenses was observed. Proliferation increased at 1 day and 1week and then gradually decreased in RGP lens. Cell proliferation were persistent chronically in RGL. Epithelial proliferation decreased to normal level 4 weeks after lens removal. Conclusions:Limbus, peripheral, and central epithelium were characterized by different proliferation rates in the normal rabbit cornea. RGL wear significantly altered the homeostatic proliferation pattern of the epithelium and wear appears to stimulate proliferation of epithelium to contact lens.
Keywords: contact lens • cornea: epithelium • proliferation