Corneal epithelial changes of soft contact lens wearers under a transmission electron microscope

Abstract

To investigate the difference in corneal epithelium between patients with and without soft contact lens (SCL) wearing, and to analyze corneal epithelial changes of the eyes with long-time SCL wearing. In this cross sectional study, the subjects were divided into two groups: 13 patients of daily SCL wearers and 11 control subjects who had never worn contact lenses. The flap of corneal epithelium was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The corneal epithelial microvillus density was compared between the two groups. Transmission electron micrographs of the control group showed a tight connection between cells, regularly aligned basal cells, and continuous basement membrane. Compared with the control group, SCL wearers showed incomplete basement membrane, swollen epithelial cells, swollen mitochondria, and widened intercellular interstices. The density of corneal epithelium microvilli [(0.071466 +/- 0.015889)/microm2 vs. (0.139851 +/- 0.024171)/micro2] was lower (t = 8.312, P < 0.05). Long-term SCL wearing can induce remarkable changes of corneal epithelial tissue, and the density of corneal epithelial microvilli decreases.