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Does corneal structure remain stable after 10 years of contact lenses?
Researchers found comparable corneal thickness and most endothelial measures in those who began wearing daily disposable hydrogel lenses during childhood, although localized cell size differences emerged.
Clinical Scorecard: Corneal characteristics after more than 10 years of contact lens wear
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Corneal structure and endothelial characteristics after long-term contact lens wear
Key Mechanisms
Potential effects of oxygen transmission and mechanical stress were proposed for localized endothelial cell-size variation but were not directly evaluated.
Target Population
Young adults who began wearing daily disposable omafilconA hydrogel soft contact lenses in childhood, compared with age-matched nonwearers
Care Setting
Cross-sectional ophthalmic assessment using anterior segment optical coherence tomography and noncontact specular microscopy
Key Highlights
The study evaluated 42 young adults; contact lens wearers had used daily disposable hydrogel lenses for an average of 11 years.
Corneal epithelial and stromal thickness did not differ statistically significantly between wearers and nonwearers across measured regions.
Endothelial cell density and hexagonality were comparable between groups across assessed regions.
Endothelial cell-size variation was statistically significantly greater in the superior and superonasal regions among contact lens wearers.
No ocular adverse events were reported among contact lens wearers during the preceding 10 years.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
The study assessed corneal epithelial and stromal thickness with anterior segment optical coherence tomography and endothelial characteristics with noncontact specular microscopy.
Management
The study authors described daily disposable hydrogel soft contact lenses as a safe and suitable option for children over a typical myopia-control treatment period.
Monitoring & Follow-up
The study measured corneal thickness across the central 6 mm and endothelial characteristics centrally and in six peripheral regions.
Risks
A localized increase in endothelial cell-size variation was observed in superior and superonasal regions; endothelial cell density and hexagonality remained comparable in those regions.
The cross-sectional design, small sample, limited measurement area, single lens material and replacement schedule, and group differences in refractive error limit interpretation and generalizability.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Contact lens group: young adults with a mean assessment age of 21.6 years, who began wearing lenses at a mean age of 10.6 years and had worn daily disposable omafilconA hydrogel lenses for an average of 11 years, at least 10 hours daily and 6 days weekly. Controls had a mean age of 21.3 years and no contact lens history.
No statistically significant group differences were found in epithelial thickness, stromal thickness, endothelial cell density, or hexagonality. The study did not directly evaluate proposed explanations related to lens modulus, surface deposits, oxygen transmission, or mechanical stress.
Clinical Best Practices
Interpret the findings in the context of the specific daily disposable omafilconA hydrogel lenses and wearing schedule studied.
Do not infer longitudinal stability from this cross-sectional comparison.
Consider the study's small sample and restriction of corneal thickness measurements to the central 6 mm when applying its findings.
