A morphologic and fluorophotometric analysis of the corneal endothelium in long-term extended wear soft contact lens wearers.

Eleven extended wear soft contact lens wearers with an average of 4 years of wear underwent corneal fluorophotometry and quantitative specular microscopy. Compared to age-matched controls, a significant increase in mean endothelial permeability was found in the contact lens group, indicating a defect in their endothelial barrier function. A significant increase in the mean endothelial pump rate was also noted in the contact lens group. In addition, mean corneal thickness was significantly greater in the contact lens group. No significant difference was noted between the two groups in mean cell area and figure coefficient; however, the coefficient of variation was significantly higher in the contact lens group. Duration of contact lens wear correlated positively with coefficient of variation. An inverse correlation was noted between contact lens oxygen transmissibility and cell area, as well as corneal thickness. These data suggest both a morphologic and functional defect in the corneal endothelium of long-term extended wear soft contact lens wearers.