Contact Lens-induced Corneal Warpage Research Articles

Tonometry by Ocular Response Analyzer in Keratoconic and Warpage Eyes in Comparison with Normal Eyes.

Purpose:To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) values measured by ocular response analyzer (ORA) in contact lens-induced corneal warpage, normal, and keratoconic eyes.Methods:In a prospective, observational case–control study, 94 eyes of 47 warpage-suspected cases and 46 eyes of 23 keratoconic patients were enrolled. Warpage-suspected cases were followed until a definite diagnosis was made (warpage, nonwarpage normal, or keratoconus). ORA tonometry and corneal biomechanics testing were performed for all cases in each visit. We had 2–3 measured corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) for each patient (based on group) with at least 2-week interval.Results:After following up of warpage-suspected patients, finally 44 eyes of 22 patients had confirmed soft contact lens-related corneal warpage. Forty-six eyes of 23 people were finally diagnosed as nonwarpage normal eyes. Forty-six eyes of 23 known keratoconus patients were also included for comparison. The demographic and refractive data were not different between the warpage and nonwarpage normal groups but were different in the keratoconus group. Both IOPcc and IOPg were statistically different with the highest value in the warpage group followed by normal and keratoconus groups; the same trend was observed in central corneal thickness (CCT). The mean of IOPg was 14.94 ± 2.65, 13.7 ± 2.33, and 10.86 ± 3 and IOPcc was 15.73 ± 2.4, 15.28 ± 2.43, and 14.08 ± 2.55 in the warpage, normal, and keratoconus groups, respectively. IOPg and IOPcc in the warpage group (based on baseline diagnosis) did not regress to become closer to IOP of normal eyes after discontinuation of contact lens in their follow-up visits (P value for IOPg and IOPcc trends in the warpage group was 0.07 and 0.09 controlling for CCT, respectively). Both IOPcc and IOPg were significantly lower in keratoconic eyes in comparison with normal eyes. After correction for the confounding effect of CCT, a lower IOPcc in keratoconus versus warpage remained significant (P = 0.02).Conclusion:Both IOPcc and IOPg were statistically different with the highest value in the warpage group followed by normal and keratoconus groups, just like their CCT. After correction for the confounding effect of CCT, there was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in their measured IOPcc and IOPg except for IOPcc in keratoconus versus warpage (P = 0.02).

Corneal Biomechanical Findings in Contact Lens Induced Corneal Warpage.

Purpose. To evaluate the difference in biomechanical properties between contact lens induced corneal warpage and normal and keratoconic eyes. Method. Prospective observational case control study, where 94 eyes of 47 warpage suspicious and 46 eyes of 23 keratoconic patients were included. Warpage suspected cases were followed until a definite diagnosis was made (warpage, normal, or keratoconus). Results. 44 eyes of 22 patients had contact lens related corneal warpage. 46 eyes of 23 people were diagnosed as nonwarpage normal eyes. 46 eyes of 23 known keratoconus patients were included for comparison. The mean age of the participants was 23.8 ± 3.8 years, and 66.2% of the subjects were female. The demographic and refractive data were not different between warpage and normal groups but were different in the keratoconus group. The biomechanical properties (corneal hysteresis or CH and corneal resistance factor or CRF) were different with the highest value in the warpage group followed by normal and keratoconus groups. CRF was 10.08 ± 1.75, 9.23 ± 1.22, and 7.38 ± 2.14 and CH was 10.21 ± 1.57, 9.59 ± 1.21, and 8.69 ± 2.34 in the warpage, normal, and keratoconus groups, respectively. Conclusion. Corneal biomechanics may be different in people who develop contact lens induced warpage.

Corneal stability after discontinued soft contact lens wear

Purpose To determine the time needed to reach corneal stability after discontinued daily wear of soft contact lenses and to identify corneal topographic and pachymetric changes during this period. Methods We prospectively studied the eyes of 21 consecutive soft contact lens wearers evaluated for keratorefractive surgery. Each eye was examined once immediately after lens removal, 3 and 7 days later, and weekly thereafter. At each visit, manifest refraction, keratometry, corneal topography (EyeSys Corneal Analysis system, EyeSys Laboratories, Houston, TX) and pachymetry were performed. Incidence of associated corneal warpage and changes in corneal curvature and thickness during corneal stability time were determined. Results Of the 42 eyes examined, 26 corneas showed no significant change after the initial evaluation (stable group). The minimum stability time was 3 days in the remaining 16 eyes (unstable group), 7 of which had significant evidence of abnormal topography. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between two groups regarding age, sex, duration of contact lens wear, and refractive and topographic measures. The mean central corneal thickness on the final visit was significantly different between two groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Contact lens induced corneal warpage may occur in a considerable proportion of soft contact lens wearers. A 2-week contact lens free period seems to be adequate for the cornea to stabilize; however, one cannot predict the minimum time needed for each individual patient. Repeating examinations to document corneal stability before refractive surgery may be a safer alternative.

Goodness-of-prediction of Zernike polynomial fitting to corneal surfaces

To determine the goodness-of-prediction of the fitting routine by measuring the difference between topographic corneal surfaces and their Zernike reconstructions as a function of polynomial order and optical zone size for various corneal conditions. Corneal research laboratory in a university eye center. Corneal topography maps (N = 253) were obtained from the Louisiana State University Eye Center. A variety of corneal conditions were used: normals; astigmatism; laser in situ keratomileusis, photorefractive keratoplasty (PRK), and radial keratotomy (RK) postoperative cases (myopic spherical corrections); keratoconus suspect; mild, moderate, and severe keratoconus; pellucid marginal degeneration; contact lens-induced corneal warpage; and penetrating keratoplasty. The root-mean-square (RMS) error of the goodness-of-prediction of the Zernike representation of corneal surface elevation was extracted for 4, 6, and 10 mm optical zones, whereas Zernike radial orders were varied from 3 to 14 in 1-order steps. The mean +/- SEM of the RMS error was plotted as a function of Zernike order and compared with criteria for normal surface fits. Fitting accuracy improved as more Zernike terms were included, but some conditions showed significant errors (when compared with normal surfaces), even with many added terms. For a 6 mm optical zone, the normal cornea group had the lowest RMS error and did not require terms above the 4th order to achieve <0.25 microm RMS error. Astigmatism met the 0.25 microm threshold at the 5th order, whereas keratoconus suspect required 7 orders. Laser in situ keratomileusis and PRK met the 0.25 microm threshold at the 8th order, whereas RK required 10 orders. Contact lens-induced corneal warpage and mild keratoconus needed 12 orders to meet the 0.25 microm threshold, whereas pellucid marginal degeneration, moderate and severe keratoconus, and keratoplasty categories were not well fitted even at 14 orders. A 4th-order Zernike polynomial appeared reliable for modeling the normal cornea, but using a 4th-order fitting routine with an abnormal corneal surface caused a loss of fine-detail shape information. As more Zernike terms were added, the accuracy of the fit improved, and the result approached the minimum error found with normal corneas. Unless sufficient higher-order Zernike terms are included when analyzing irregular surfaces, some diagnostic applications of Zernike coefficients may not be rigorous. This conclusion also suggests that wavefront shape analysis is similarly dependent on the number of orders used. Current surgical corrections based on normal-eye wavefronts may fail to capture all visually relevant aberrations in abnormal eyes, such as those having laser retreatments or experiencing corneal warpage from contact lens wear. A clinical goodness-of-fit or goodness-of-prediction index would indicate whether the number of terms in use has fully accounted for all of the visually significant aberrations present in the eye.

Hydrogel contact lens-induced corneal warpage

Background: Although contact lens-induced corneal warpage is most frequently associated with PMMA lenses, approximately 27% of reported cases of corneal warpage have been attributed to hydrogel lens wear. The change in corneal contour may be the result of either mechanical deformation, chronic metabolic insult, or a combination of mechanical and metabolic challenges. Limited oxygen transmissibility through some hydrogel lenses may lead to chronic hypoxia and acidosis. These metabolic challenges can change corneal physiology sufficiently to cause clinically significant corneal warpage. Case reports: Three cases of hydrogel contact lens-induced corneal warpage are presented. In all three cases, cessation of lens wear led to restoration of the normal corneal contour and visual acuity. All patients were refit with more oxygen-permeable lenses, and have successfully resumed wearing contact lenses. Conclusion: Certain individuals who wear hydrogel contact lenses can experience corneal warpage. Clinical signs of corneal warpage include changes in refractive error, decreased visual acuity with spectacle correction, and changes in corneal topography. Serial topography is useful to monitor the cornea to resolution of the condition. Contact lenses with higher oxygen transmissibility will frequently alleviate the relative hypoxia that may be associated with corneal warpage.

Time to resolution of contact lens-induced corneal warpage prior to refractive surgery.

To evaluate the resolution of contact lens-induced corneal warpage before keratorefractive surgery. We prospectively studied the eyes of 165 consecutive contact lens-wearing patients evaluated for keratorefractive surgery. Significant contact lens-induced corneal warpage was detected by comeal topography in 20 eyes of 11 patients. Manifested refraction, keratometry, and cornea topography were subsequently recorded during weekly or biweekly reevaluations and were compared with previous measurements for stability. Effects of age, sex, type, and duration of contact-lens wear and the recovery time period to stabilization were analyzed. Overall, a 12% incidence of significant contact lens-induced corneal warpage was found. In patients demonstrating lens-associated warpage, the mean duration of prior contact lens wear was 21.2 years (range 10 to 30 years); lens use included daily wear soft (n=2), extended-wear soft (n=6), toric (n=4), and rigid gas-permeable contact lenses (n=8). Up to 3.0 diopter (D) refractive and 2.5D keratometric shifts accompanied by significant topography pattern differences were observed. The average recovery time for stabilization of refraction, keratometry (change within +/- 0.5D), and topography pattern was 7.8+/-6.7 weeks (range 1 to 20 weeks). Recovery rates differed between the lens types: soft extended-wear 11.6+/-8.5 weeks, soft toric lens 5.5+/-4.9 weeks, soft daily wear 2.5+/-2.1 weeks, and rigid gas-permeable 8.8+/-6.8 weeks. We observed a 12% incidence of significant contact lens-induced corneal warpage in patients undergoing evaluation for keratorefractive surgery. Warpage occurred with all types of contact lens wear but resolved at different rates. To optimize the quality and predictability of keratorefractive procedures, an appropriate waiting period is necessary for contact lens-induced corneal warpage to stabilize. We suggest that resolution of corneal warpage be documented by stable serial manifested refractions, keratometry, and corneal topographic patterns before scheduling patients for keratorefractive surgery.

Evaluation of mild, moderate, and advanced keratoconus using ultrasound pachometry and the EyeSys videokeratoscope.

The absolute accuracy of videokeratoscope (VKS) mapping of keratoconus is still in question, with contact lens-induced corneal warpage and chalazion having been shown to resemble this condition closely. Corneal thinning is investigated as a further aid to the diagnosis and description of keratoconus. The diagnosis of keratoconus in 41 individuals was verified by measuring the corneal thickness difference (I-S difference) between two disparate corneal locations, one inferior to (I) and one superior to (S) the corneal apex, using a Humphrey model 870 Ultrasound pachometer. Corresponding measures of I-S radii were made using radius values obtained from the EyeSys VKS. A comparison between I-S pachometry and I-S radius demonstrated a marginally increased sensitivity for the latter measurement. Using 95% confidence levels from normative pachometric data, classification of severity of keratoconus is proposed as follows: (1) keratoconus suspect/early keratoconus: I-S pachometry 75 to 100 microns; (2) moderate keratoconus: 100 to 125 microns; and (3) advanced keratoconus: > 125 microns. I-S pachometry can be used as a descriptor of keratoconus.

Comparison of Methods for Detecting Keratoconus Using Videokeratography

The detection of keratoconus patterns on videokeratography is important for screening candidates for refractive surgery and for studying the genetic basis of keratoconus. We compared three quantitative approaches to identifying keratoconus from videokeratographic information to examine the limitations and capabilities of each test and to determine their suitability for use in the clinical setting. Videokeratographs typical of clinically diagnosed keratoconus (n = 44) and of various non-keratoconus conditions (n = 132, including normal, with-the-rule astigmatism, contact lens-induced corneal warpage, photorefractive keratectomy, keratoplasty, and pellucid marginal degeneration) were selected. Three methods for detecting keratoconus were used: keratometry (average Simulated Keratometry [SimK] readings > 45.7 diopters [D]); the modified Rabinowitz-McDonnell test (central corneal power > 47.2 D and/or Inferosuperior Asymmetry [I-S] value > 1.4 D); and an expert system classifier (classification based on discriminant analysis and classification tree with eight topographic indexes). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each test. Sensitivities were 84% for keratometry, 96% for the modified Rabinowitz-McDonnell test, and 98% for the expert system classifier. Specificities for the three methods were 86%, 85%, and 99%, respectively. In terms of sensitivity, the expert system classifier was significantly better than keratometry (P = .04). In terms of specificity, the expert system classifier was significantly better than either of the other methods (P = .001). For screening candidates for refractive surgery, where high sensitivity is needed, either the modified Rabinowitz-McDonnell test or the expert system classifier is suitable. For diagnosing keratoconus, where high specificity is more useful, the expert system classifier is more appropriate than the other two methods.

Screening for Corneal Topographic Abnormalities before Refractive Surgery

The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the corneal topography of patients who sought an opinion regarding refractive surgery for the correction of myopia. Both eyes of 53 patients were evaluated with a topographic modeling system. Forty-two patients wore contact lenses (84 eyes: 36 rigid contact lenses and 48 soft contact lenses). Ten patients (20 eyes) wore glasses alone and one patient (2 eyes) wore neither glasses nor contact lenses for correction of myopia. Thirty-five (33%) of 106 eyes were found to have abnormal corneal topography. Of the 42 patients (84 eyes) who wore contact lenses, 32 eyes (38%) had irregular astigmatism, loss of radial symmetry, or absence of the normal progressive flattening from the center to the periphery of the cornea, consistent with contact lens-induced corneal warpage. Alterations were more frequent and severe in rigid contact lens wearers. Three patients (5.7%) received a diagnosis of definite keratoconus, a higher incidence than has been reported in the general population. Topographic abnormalities in most, if not all, of the eyes would not have been detected by visual inspection of the photokeratoscopic images alone. Appropriate preoperative detection and management of corneal topographic abnormalities are essential steps in every refractive surgical procedure. The overall efficacy and safety of procedures such as radial keratotomy and photorefractive keratectomy likely will be improved once the unpredictable variables of contact lens-induced warpage and occult ectatic disease are eliminated by topographic screening before surgery. Patients with keratoconus may be over-represented in the refractive surgery population due to self-selection.

Standardized Color-coded Maps for Corneal Topography

Modern videokeratoscopy is useful in assessing corneal shape. The purpose of this study is to compare color-coded topographic maps using standardized scales with 1.0- and 1.5-diopter (D) intervals. The authors assessed the use of the two scales for detecting clinically relevant features of corneal topography such as regular astigmatism, irregular astigmatism, early keratoconus, and contact lens-induced corneal warpage. A total of 50 normal corneas, 50 corneas with contact lenses, 50 that had keratoconus (25 early to moderate and 25 advanced), 50 that had penetrating keratoplasty, 20 that had extracapsular cataract surgery, 17 that had excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia, 10 that had radial keratotomy, 3 that had aphakic epikeratophakia, and 2 that had myopic epikeratophakia were analyzed with a corneal topographic analysis system. Color-coded maps with 1.0-D intervals (Maguire/Waring scale) and 1.5-D intervals (Klyce/Wilson scale) were compared. There were no topographic characteristics that were not appreciated with either scale for corneas with dioptric powers that fell within their ranges. Conversely, for corneas that had powers outside the range of the 1.0-diopter scale, but within the range of the 1.5-diopter scale, the former produced a map in which the flattest or steepest areas were artifactually smoothed. This study suggests that the Klyce/Wilson scale (constant, 1.5-D intervals) provides the best combination of sensitivity for detection of clinically significant topographic features and the widest range of coverage of powers that are found on a variety of normal, pathologic, and surgically altered corneas. The adoption of the Klyce/Wilson scale by all manufacturers of corneal topographic instruments as a primary standard will facilitate communication and will make the interpretation of corneal topography easier for both the expert and the novice.

Contact Lens-Induced Corneal Warpage

Contact Lens-Induced Corneal Warpage

Topographic Changes in Contact Lens-induced Corneal Warpage

Twenty-one eyes of 12 patients with contact lens-induced corneal warpage were followed prospectively using computer-assisted topographic analysis. Sixteen eyes had worn rigid contact lenses (13 eyes, polymethylmethacrylate; three eyes, gas-permeable), and five eyes had worn soft contact lenses. Initial corneal topographic patterns were characterized by the presence of central irregular astigmatism, loss of radial symmetry, and frequent reversal of the normal topographic pattern of progressive flattening of corneal contour from the center to the periphery. A correlation was noted between the initial corneal topography and the resting position of the contact lens on the cornea for nine of the 16 eyes with rigid contact lenses. Initial topography for each of these corneas showed relative flattening of the corneal contour underlying the resting position of a decentered contact lens. Superior-riding lenses produced a topography that simulated early keratoconus. After cessation of contact lens wear, 16 of 21 eyes had a change in corneal shape to a topography that was consistent with a normal pattern. Five corneas stabilized with an abnormal topographic pattern. A much longer time without contact lenses than had been previously reported, up to 5 months, was required for a return of a stable corneal topography in eyes with contact lens-induced corneal warpage caused by rigid lenses.