Conjunctival, immunologic pathologies still potentials with extended-wear lenses

Patients who are prescribed 30-day extended-wear contact lenses still run a risk of developing conjunctival cytologic changes secondary to mechanical trauma, according to a study. As a result, ophthalmologists should not overlook these potential complications when prescribing an extended-wear lens schedule.

Canan Gürdel and colleagues in Turkey evaluated the short-term effect of extended-wear soft contact lens usage on ocular surface and central corneal thickness; they included 52 eyes of 26 patients. Of the patients, 16 used the high oxygen-permeable lenses for a 30-day extended wear schedule (group 1). Group 2 used the lenses on a daily wear basis.

Three patients in group 1 were excluded from the study, as lens use was discontinued because of discomfort and hyperemia.

Central corneal thickness decreased in group 1 from 554 µm to 546 µm (P = .002). No significant changes occurred in group 2. The extended-wear group also showed an 88% increase in metaplasia, especially close to the limbal areas and in the superior quadrants. In the daily wear group there was a 30% increase in metaplasia. Chromatin changes increased in the extended-wear group but remained stable in group 2. Baseline and final pathological conditions showed an increase for group 1 and no significant difference in group 2.

The study is published in Ophthalmologica.