Biometric Risk Factors Involved in Corneal Surface Complications With Soft Contact Lens Wear

Friday, April 25, 2014
KIOSKS (Boston Convention and Exhibition Center)
Dae Seung Lee, MD, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Mee Kum Kim, MD, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Won Ryang Wee, MD, PhD, Seoul Nat'l Univ Hospital, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Narrative Responses:

Purpose
To investigate the biometric risk factors involved in corneal surface complications in fitting hydrogel soft contact lenses (SCLs) in myopic patients in Korea.

Methods
This is a retrospective case-controlled study. The records of 124 subjects (248 eyes) using SCLs on a daily basis were reviewed. The 40 patients (80 eyes) who were diagnosed with superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) of more than 3 on the NEI scale, neovascularization and focal limbal cell deficiency while wearing SCLs were included in the complication group. Eighty-four age- and sex-matched patients (168 eyes) who had worn SCLs without corneal complications and visited for correction of refractive errors were included in the control. The spherical equivalent, astigmatism and corneal base curve radius (BCR) were compared in both groups.

Results
In the complication group, SPK, neovascularization, focal limbal deficiency, and warpage were found to be 72.8%, 72.8%, 25.0% and 27.5%. In the univariate method, high myopia (–9.5 diopter (D) or higher) were more likely to experience corneal surface complications (odds ratio [OR] = 2.60, 95% CI, 1.28-5.28), with High astigmatism (≥ 2.5 D) (OR = 2.52; 95% CI, 1.09-5.82) and Steep cornea, in which BCR was < 7.40 mm, raised the risk of complications (OR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.06-4.67). In multivariate analysis, high myopia higher than 9.5 Diopter showed significant high OR(OR =2.22, 95% CI, 1.01-4.56, p=0.048).

Conclusion
High myopia higher than 9.5 Diopter seemed to be most significant risk factor in the development of corneal surface complications in SCL wearers.