Corneal tissue changes following short‐term soft contact lens wear of different materials

PURPOSE: To study the effect of different soft contact lens (CL) materials during short‐term wear on corneal tissue. METHODS: Twenty‐two healthy participants wore both silicone hydrogel (MyDay, CooperVision) and hydrogel soft CLs (Biomedics 1 day extra, CooperVision) for 8 h per lens. In each session, Scheimpflug images were captured before and immediately after CL removal. Images were analysed using the densitometry distribution analysis, a technique from which two parameters, α (corneal transparency) and β (corneal homogeneity), were estimated. In addition, the central corneal thickness changes after CL wear and the influence of the CL material on corneal transparency were evaluated. RESULTS: The β parameter (homogeneity) increased by 5% after wearing both CL materials (paired t‐test, p < 0.001). However, the α parameter (transparency) only increased in half of the participants. No material was found to be more determinant in causing the corneal densitometry changes. Statistically significant but not clinically relevant changes in corneal thickness were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarkers of corneal tissue integrity (α and β) were affected by short‐term soft contact lens wear. The observed changes in corneal transparency and homogeneity were not clinically relevant but support the importance of participant‐material biocompatibility.