Two weeks cessation of SCL wear appears sufficient for resolution of corneal curvature changes with modern SCL materials and years of SCL wear. However, further studies with longer lens deprivation periods are required to ensure stability for all SCL wearing patients.

PURPOSE:To examine the influence of a variety of soft contact lens (SCL) materials on the corneal endothelium, prior to and following two weeks cessation of SCL wear. METHODS:Corneal endothelial cells were examined using a CEM-530 specular microscope (Nidek, Japan). Full-time SCL wearers (n = 31 eyes) were compared to a non-contact lens (NCL) control group (n = 28 eyes) of a similar age (SCL: 20.82 ± 1.69 years, NCL: 21.14 ± 2.85 years, p = 0.58). Parameters analysed were endothelial cell density (ECD; cell/mm 2 ), mean cell area (MCA; µ 2 ), coefficient of variation (COV) and hexagonality (%). RESULTS:Prior to SCL cessation, two-way ANOVA testing showed significant differences between silicone hydrogel (SiH) SCL materials for the COV at 0º, with generation 2 SiH (G2SiH) wearers showing increased COV (27.67 ± 3.78) compared to generation 3 SiH (G3SiH) wearers (24.50 ± 3.73, p = 0.01).COV at the superior periphery was significantly lower in the NCL group (25.63 ± 2.79) compared to the hydrogel group (29.92 ± 6.22, p = 0.02). The MCA in the inferior periphery was also significantly higher in the NCL group (346.92 ± 36.75) compared to the hydrogel group (314.92 ± 16.57, p = 0.02). Following 14 days SCL cessation, no statistically significant differences in stability of endothelial parameters were detected between NCL and SCL material groups (all p values >0.05). CONCLUSION:SCL wear has an effect on paracentral and peripheral corneal endothelial measurements in SCL wearers compared to NCL wearers; with largest significant differences seen between NCL and hydrogel SCL wearers. Following two weeks SCL cessation, there were no significant differences in the stability of all endothelial measurements, regardless of which SCL material was worn.

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