Non-contact specular microscopic observation for early response of corneal endothelium after contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: Contact lenses induce short- and long-term corneal endothelial changes, including endothelial blebs. The endothelial bleb is a reversible, short-term response found on the corneal endothelium after lens wear. We used non-contact specular microscopy to observe endothelial blebs occurring with different types of contact lenses. METHODS: We observed the time course, frequency, and location of endothelial blebs in 11 eyes of 9 contact lens wearing patients. Eight types of contact lenses with various oxygen transmissibilities (Dk/L) were used in the study. RESULTS: Blebs were observed in the central cornea in patients with polymethylmethacrylate and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, while blebs in the central to mid-peripheral cornea were seen in patients wearing soft contact lenses. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of blebs vary by individual patient, there appears to be an inverse correlation between the number of blebs and the Dk/L of the contact lens.