EFFECTS OF SILICONE HYDROGEL CONTACT LENS ON CHANGES OF TEAR FILM LIPID LAYER, VISUAL FUNCTIONS, OCULAR INTEGRITY AND COMFORT AMONG SILICONE HYDROGEL CONTACT LENS WEARERS

Abstract

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses (SiH CL) are often suggested by Optometrist because of its ability to resolve ocular complications due to hypoxia. Nevertheless, due to hydrophobicity of SiH materials may cause deposition of TFLL on the lens surface that may affected the visual functions and comfort of the wearers that may result symptom dry eye. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of SiH on changes of TFLL, visual functions, ocular integrity and comfort in SiH wearers for 12 months. The morphology of the corneal endothelial cells and epithelial cells of the upper tarsal conjunctiva were also examined.