Evaluation of endothelial integrity in extended wear.

The purpose of this investigation was two-fold: 1) to evaluate and compare the endothelium of hydrogel and rigid extended wear contact lens patients and 2) to evaluate a new technique for in-office endothelial photography. Endothelial photography was performed on seven patients who had worn low water content ultrathin soft lenses and seven patients who had worn rigid extended wear lenses for 1 year. In addition, seven non-lens wearers were used as a control group. Endothelial polymegathism and pleomorphic changes were evaluated via photographic observation using a new endothelial photography technique developed by G. Michael Murphy, O.D. The results showed that this was a viable method of endothelial photography for monitoring extended wear contact lens patients.