Changes in the morphology of corneal endothelial cells in young myopic adults after 6 months of wearing soft contact lenses: a Malaysian perspective

Purpose: Soft contact lens wear is most frequently associated with morphologic changes in corneal endothelial cells, but the data are scarce in Asians. This study aimed to evaluate changes in corneal endothelial cell morphology after 6 months of wearing soft hydrogel contact lenses (SH) in young myopic adults living in Kuala Lumpur.

Patients and methods: Forty-eight subjects were included in the study, 24 were fitted with SH contact lenses (A) and the rest were prescribed with glasses (B). Refraction was conducted subjectively and standard contact lens fitting protocol was followed. Corneal endothelial cell morphology (endothelial cell density, ECD; coefficient of variation, COV; cells' hexagonality, HEX; and central corneal thickness, CCT) was evaluated using specular microscope. Data were collected at baseline and after 6 months of lens wear.

Results: Mean age of all subjects was 21.23±1.30 years. All results are shown at baseline and 6 months, respectively. Mean refraction for A was -2.16±0.97 diopter sphere (DS) and -2.05±1.03 DS (P=0.49); for B was -2.72±1.51 DS and -2.73±1.51 DS (P=0.58). Mean ECD (cell/mm2) for A: 3104.19±237.30 and 3107.23±237.51 (P=0.07); for B: 3011.56±227.95 and 2983.83±244.55 (P=0.33). COV (%) for A: 46.52±8.63 and 48.53±10.65 (P=0.06); for B: 46.93±9.31 and 46.14±10.65 (P=0.88). HEX (%) for A: 46.21±10.12 and 45.15±10.01 (P=0.08); for B: 46.21±10.12 and 45.15±10.01 (P=0.12). CCT (µm) for A: 520.33±0.04 and 525.70±0.05 (P=0.41); for B: 532.00±0.04 µm and 530.00±0.05 µm (P=0.40).

Conclusion: This study found no significant change in corneal endothelial cell morphology after 6 months of wearing SH contact lenses. This is probably due to better oxygen permeability of the contact lens material, good compliance, and short wearing period.