Morphologic changes in corneal endothelial cells during 3 years of fluorocarbon contact lens wear

Purpose. To record morphologic changes that occur in corneal endothelial cells during daily wear of rigid, gas-permeable fluorocarbon contact lenses during 3 years. Methods. Nineteen new wearers and 32 previous wearers were fitted with daily-wear fluorocarbon contact lenses. Photographic images of the central corneal endothelium and central corneal thickness measurements were recorded at baseline, 2 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years after fitting. Results. In the new wearers, an increase in the coefficient of variation of cell area was present by 2 months after lens fitting and increased further over the subsequent 3 years. The increase in coefficient of variation of cell area was correlated with the oxygen transmissibility of the lens. Endothelial cell density was decreased at 2 and 3 years. Corneal thickness did not change. In the previous lens wearers after 3 years, there were no significant changes from baseline in any morphologic value. Corneal thickness was decreased significantly. Conclusions. Although oxygen transmissibility in fluorocarbon contact lenses is improved over previous hard and soft lenses, polymegethism still was induced within 2 months by these lenses, and morphologic changes present from past lens wear did not improve during 3 years of daily wear.