Abstract
Purpose :
Contact lens use affects the morphology and density of the corneal endothelial cells, an important factor affecting normal endothelial function and the maintenance of corneal clarity. However, normal corneal endothelial parameters vary among population subsets worldwide. Research assessing the effects of hard contact lens use across populations has been limited in terms of the numbers and duration of use. This study aimed to analyze the effect of extended long-term use of hard contact lens on corneal endothelial cell density and morphology in healthy Japanese individuals.
Methods :
This observational study included individuals using hard contact lenses examined at the Miyata Eye Hospital between 1996 and 2015. Eyes with a previous history of ophthalmologic surgery or diseases—except refractive errors—were excluded. Medical information regarding the individual’s age, duration of contact lens use, corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), rate of appearance of hexagonal cells (6A), and cell area were reviewed retrospectively. The corneal endothelium data were obtained via non-contact specular microscopy.
Results :
We included 8604 eyes of 4302 individuals (mean age, 35.6±10.0 years): including 837 male and 3465 female individuals. The mean duration of hard contact lens use was 14.7±9.1 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that ECD was significantly correlated with age (P<0.001), but not to duration of use; however, CV, 6A, and cell area correlated significantly with both factors (all P<0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that the CV (Y=29.9+0.24X, R2=0.31, P<0.001), 6A (Y=60.7-0.26X, R2=0.23, P<0.001), and cell area (Y=336.1+1.1X, R2=0.26, P<0.001) correlated significantly with the duration of use.
Conclusions :
CV, 6A, and cell area significantly correlated with the duration of hard contact lens use in healthy Japanese individuals. It is important to observe the corneal endothelial morphology in long-term contact lens wearers.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.