Purpose

To analyse and compare the alterations in corneal endothelium morphology induced by different materials and durations of wearing soft contact lenses (CL) among young adults living in Kuala Lumpur.

Methods

Healthy soft CL wearers were invited to participate in this study. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using the Snellen chart, and subjective refraction was performed using cross-cylinder technique. Standard ocular assessments were conducted using a slit lamp biomicroscope and morphology of corneal endothelial cells (endothelial cell density, ECD, coefficient variation, COV, hexagonality, HEX and central corneal thickness, CCT) were evaluated using a non-contact specular microscope. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and data from the right eye only is included.

Results

A total of 72 subjects (32 SiHy and 40 HCL wearers) and 24 non-CL wearers (control) participated in this study. The gender distribution for study subjects was 13 males and 59 females, with a mean age 22.15 ± 1.84 years old. The mean refraction was −1.86 ± 1.25DS. The duration of wearing CL ranged from 1 to 9 years. Subjects were later divided into 2 groups following duration of CL wear: Group 1 (<5 years) and Group 2 (≥5 years) for analysis purposes. Statistical analysis showed significant alterations in ECD, COV and HEX of CL wearers (p < 0.05), with more changes found in HCL and Group 2 wearers. No significant change was found in CCT.

Conclusion

This study concludes that soft CL wear induced alterations in the morphology of corneal endothelial cells. Contact lens material and duration of CL wear (in years) are factors that affect the alterations. Optometrists are recommended to regularly evaluate the morphology of corneal endothelial cells in CL wearers and provide necessary intervention when required.

中文翻译：

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吉隆坡长期佩戴隐形眼镜的人的角膜内皮细胞形态。

目的

分析和比较居住在吉隆坡的年轻成年人由不同材料和佩戴软性隐形眼镜（CL）的持续时间引起的角膜内皮形态变化。

方法

健康的柔软CL穿着者被邀请参加这项研究。使用Snellen图测量视力（VA），并使用十字柱技术进行主观屈光。使用裂隙灯生物显微镜进行标准的眼部评估，并使用非接触式镜面显微镜评估角膜内皮细胞的形态（内皮细胞密度，ECD，系数变化，COV，六角形，HEX和中央角膜厚度，CCT）。使用ANOVA进行统计分析，仅包括右眼的数据。

结果

共有72位受试者（32位SiHy和40位HCL佩戴者）和24位非CL佩戴者（对照）参加了这项研究。研究对象的性别分布为13位男性和59位女性，平均年龄为22.15±1.84岁。平均折射率为-1.86±1.25DS。穿CL的持续时间为1至9年。随后，根据CL的磨损时间将受试者分为2组：第1组（<5年）和第2组（≥5年）以进行分析。统计分析表明，CL佩戴者的ECD，COV和HEX发生了显着变化（p <0.05），而HCL和第二组佩戴者的变化更大。在CCT中未发现明显变化。

结论

这项研究得出的结论是，软性CL磨损导致角膜内皮细胞形态发生改变。隐形眼镜的材料和CL磨损的持续时间（以年为单位）是影响更改的因素。建议验光师定期评估CL佩戴者的角膜内皮细胞的形态，并在需要时提供必要的干预措施。