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How does long-term contact lens wear change your cornea? What does the latest research reveal?
With the growing popularity of contact lenses for vision correction, many people are choosing to wear these convenient vision aids long-term. However, the latest research indicates that long-term contact lens wearing may cause significant structural and functional changes to the cornea. These changes include a decrease in corneal thickness, curvature, sensitivity and other indicators. This article will delve into the specifics of these effects to help readers better understand the potential risks of contact lenses.
Structural changes
Long-term wearing of soft hydrogel contact lenses can significantly change corneal epithelial oxygen uptake, epithelial thickness, stromal thickness, and corneal endothelial morphology.
Studies have shown that epithelial vacuoles begin to appear in the cornea one week after wearing soft hydrogel contact lenses, and microvesicles appear after three months. The number of these changes increases significantly with longer wearing time. In long-term contact lens wearers, the average number of microvesicles observed was more than five times the normal level. These changes are mainly due to the metabolic suppression of the cornea in a hypoxic environment.
Functionality Changes
Studies have shown that long-term contact lens wear can significantly reduce corneal sensitivity and may affect vision and cause photophobia.
Long-term wearers of PMMA or thick hydrogel contact lenses have reported eye irritation, photophobia, and blurred vision. These symptoms are thought to be related to the long-term contact of the contact lens to the cornea and in some cases may lastingly affect the user's vision.
Reversible damage
Some changes caused by long-term contact lens wear are reversible, according to new research. For example, after cessation of contact lens wear, corneal epithelial oxygen uptake returns to normal levels within a month, while epithelial thickness returns to normal within a week. However, although some parameters can be restored, endothelial polymorphism and microvesicle density will not disappear for a period of time.
Conclusion
In summary, long-term wearing of contact lenses has a profound impact on the structure and function of the cornea, and these effects often take a long time to recover. In view of this, users should pay more attention to the habits of wearing contact lenses to reduce damage to the eyes. So, how do you balance the need for vision correction with the maintenance of eye health?
