Regular examination is important in contact lens use.
Many studies are being conducted to determine whether long-term contact lens use has any harm. According to a study conducted on patients who have used contact lenses for 5 years or more, corneal thickness and anterior corneal curvature can be observed, Anadolu Health Center Ophthalmology Specialist Op. Dr. Yusuf Avni Yılmaz said, “Today, in parallel with the decrease in the use of hard lenses and the increase in production technology in soft lenses, lenses with higher oxygen permeability are used. Although these lenses reduce the negative impact on the corneal surface, they do not reset it. Therefore, periodic examinations of patients using lenses are very important.” Kiss. Dr. Yusuf Avni Yılmaz gave important information on the subject…
Be careful about using contact lenses for more than 5 years
In a study published in the American Eye Academy, it was seen that most of the cases consisted of patients using soft contact lenses, while a smaller number were selected from patients using rigid gas permeable lenses. As a result of the examination, the corneas of the patients using contact lenses were measured to be between 30-50 microns, thinner and the corneal steepness was measured to be steeper than the control group. There was no correlation between the change in corneal thickness and corneal curvature and the eye number of the patients. In particular, the thinning of corneal thickness was detected more clearly in those using hard lenses than in those using soft lenses.
Changes in the cornea can be caused by many factors
Although the exact cause of changes in the cornea is not known, many factors are thought to be the cause. These; Decrease in the oxygen level in the cornea, biochemical changes due to lack of oxygen, mechanical trauma of hard lenses, change in tear density, decrease in the number of cells forming the cornea. Although this change in the cornea was seen mostly in the epithelial layer, which is the most anterior layer, it was also observed in the middle layer of the cornea, which is the thickest and responsible for its durability.
Contact lens use varies from person to person and over time.
In addition to the change in corneal thickness, the thinning of the cornea is shown to be the cause of the steepening of the cornea. The most frequently asked question by patients using contact lenses is ‘Did the lenses have any effect on my eyes? How long can I use lenses or can I have laser surgery?’ Questions like these. Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to these. Because the answers to all these questions vary from person to person and may also vary over time.
Periodic inspection is important
Periodic examinations are especially important for those who use contact lenses for a long time. It is important to choose the appropriate lens, to replace the currently used lenses with more suitable lenses if negative effects are observed, or to discontinue lens use for a while. Patients who want to undergo refractive surgery (laser surgery) should have eye examinations to detect possible changes in their corneas due to lens use, before deciding on surgery, and if necessary, taking a break from lens use for a while.
