The short-term effects of PMMA contact lens wear on keratometric behaviour: results for a single keratoconic cornea*

Abstract

Keratometric behaviour is a multifaceted issue that many researchers have investigated for years. Many internal and external influences can have an effect on the cornea’s keratometric behaviour. This investigation forms a small part of a larger study that aims at determining the effects that rigid contact lenses might have on keratometric behaviour. This pilot study examined the keratometric behaviour of a single, mildly keratoconic cornea that was fitted with a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) contact lens. Sixty successive auto-keratometric measurements were taken immediately before and immediately after three hours of contact lens wear. The data obtained was transformed to dioptric power matrices and were analysed using multivariate statistical methods. This study showed that, at least in one keratoconic cornea, there appeared to be a statistically significant change in corneal curvature under the influence of a PMMA contact lens. The contact lens had also appeared to decrease variation in corneal curvature. There was no control study done on this eye therefore the effects of diurnal variation, if any, could not be established. (S Afr Optom 2010 69(2) 69-76)