INVESTIGATION OF CORNEAL CHANGES IN CONTACT LENS USERS

Purpose: Analysed the effects of contact lens use on the structural characteristics of the cornea. Methods: 95 patients using contact lens and 95 patient without ocular pathology were included in the study. Detailed ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Stromal and epithelial thicknes measured by OCT. CCT (central corneal thickness) and keratometry values were measured with topography. Endothelial values were measured using specular microscope. Schirmer test was performed. Result: 21 of the lens users were male and 74 female, while 23 of the control subjects were male and 72 female. The mean age of Group 1 was 22.80 and 23.80 was 2. Topography values; K1, k2, posterior k2 is different, posterior k1 was similar. Epithelial thickness, the number of endothelial cells and their density were found to be different and age, gender , schirmer, CCT, stromal thickness and hexagonal cell counts were similar. Group 3, 0-18 months lens users and Group 4 consisted of contact lens users for more than 18 months. The ratio of group 3 between 0-18 months was 50.5% and 49.5% group 4. The mean age of Group 3 was 21.52 ± 3.31, 24.19 ± 4.99 in Group 4. When subgrouped according to duration, observed that sim k1, sim k2, cct, posterior k1 and posterior k2 values did not change, but the endothelial cell numbers were statistically different between subgroups. Conclusion: Use of high permeability silicon hydrogel lenses some of the hypoxic effects of the contact lenses on the corneal structure in relation to the mechanical and inflammatory activity is still present. Due to recently increased use of lenses and desire of patients for keratorefractive surgery, it must known the effects of the corneal structures to prevent surgical complications and meet the expectations of the patients with respect to these surgeries.