gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Confocal in-vivo laser-scanning microscopy of the corneal epithelium with Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT II) in combination with the Rostock Cornea Module (RCM) in contact lens users

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author A. Eckard - Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rostock
  • J. Stave - Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rostock
  • R. F. Guthoff - Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rostock

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogDO.08.06

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog073.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Eckard et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

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Objective

By the development of the Rostock Cornea Module (RCM) in-vivo investigation of the front eye sections with precise depth measurement of the corneal structures became possible. The corneal epithelium of contact lens users were examined with the HRT II in combination with the RCM.

Methods

In this study 116 eyes of 58 contact lens users at the age between 14 and 77 years were examined. The volunteers were divided into 3 groups in dependance on the duration of use of contact lenses (group 1: less than 5 years, 2: between 5 and 10 years, 3: more than 10 years). The central and peripheral corneal epithelium was regarded. The cell densities of the different sections of the epithelium (superficial cell layer, intermediate cell layer, basal cell layer), the thickness of the cornea and the thickness of the corneal epithelium were determinated.

Results

A significant thinning of the peripheral cornea of contact lens users were seen compared with normal probands - resulting from a decrease of the stroma thickness. Furthermore group 2 and 3 showed a decrease of the peripheral epithelium thickness. This was not significant. In the central cornea no thickness differences between normal probands and contact lens users could be proven. A significant reduction of the central epithelium thickness could be shown between group 3 and group 1. Changes of the cell densities in the different cell layers of the epithelium could be seen.

Conclusions

Carrying of contact lenses leads to different effects at the human cornea (mechanical, disturbance of the supply). The resulting alterations of the cornea could be demonstrated fast an repeatable with confocal in-vivo laser scanning microscopy.