Does Long-term Soft Contact Lens Wear Affect Corneal and Anterior Chamber Parameters?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the long-term effects of soft contact lenses (SCL) on the cornea and anterior chamber by topography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine eyes of 22 healthy patients were included in this prospective study. Changes in corneal and anterior chamber parameters before and after 12 months of daily SCL use (Air Optix Aqua, Air Optix Aqua for Astigmatism, Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism) were evaluated with Pentacam (Oculus, Germany). RESULTS: Best corrected visual acuity with toric SCL was significantly better compared to spectacles in the toric SCL group (0.98±0.34 vs 0.94±0.72, p=0.004). None of the corneal (horizontal and vertical keratometry, corneal volume, anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism, corneal pachymetry of apex and thinnest location) and anterior chamber (anterior chamber depth, volume and angle) parameters showed a statistically significant change after long-term daily wear of SCLs. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that long-term wear of current high oxygen permeable and relatively low modulus silicone hydrogel SCLs does not impact cornea and anterior chamber morphology or volumetric parameters. Furthermore, toric silicone hydrogel SCLs can provide better visual performance than spectacles.