Contact lens induced transient changes in corneal endothelium.

The effect of soft contact lens (SCL) wear on corneal epithelium was studied with a noncontact specular microscope in 21 unadapted young volunteers. In 4 cases the specular reflection remained intact. In 6 cases the specular reflection was abnormally pronounced in the cell periphery and less pronounced in the central cell area. Nine of 21 eyes presented also nonreflecting areas or blebs. In 2 individuals these changes were extensive. The changes appeared 4 to 10 min after the contact lens (CL) insertion and reached a maximum after 15 to 40 min. The endothelial mosaic returned to normal about 30 min after removal of the CL. The endothelial bleb reaction and the role of atmospheric oxygen flux to the endothelium is discussed.