Confocal microscopy in vivo in corneas of long-term contact lens wearers.

摘要: PURPOSE. To compare keratocyte density, stromal backscatter, epithelial thickness, and corneal sensitivity between corneas of long-term contact lens wearers those non– wearers. METHODS. Twenty 20 daily (10 years’ duration) age-matched (5 years) control subjects who had never worn lenses, were examined by confocal microscopy in vivo. The removed their lenses 12 to 24 hours before the examination. Full-thickness images recorded from central temporal cornea, bright objects (keratocyte nuclei) manually counted calculate density. Stromal intensity (backscatter) was measured calculating mean grayscale value (corrected for camera light source variations) center images. Epithelial thickness determined distance surface epithelium subbasal nerve plexus. Central CochetBonnet esthesiometry correlated with number fiber bundles RESULTS. densities 22,122 2,676 cells/mm 3 (mean SD) 20,731 2,627 , respectively, not significantly different (P 0.29). minimum detectable difference cell density 11% (2346 2235 stroma, respectively). Temporal 46.3 4.7 mi n 50.9 m 0.02). backscatter did differ 0.05). Corneal lower than it 0.05) correlate CONCLUSIONS. Long-term wear its associated hypoxia acidosis have no demonstrable effect on is thinner subjects. Decreased accompanied decreased bundle (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002;43:995–1003)