PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of soft contact lenses on central corneal thickness and morphologic characteristics of the corneal endothelium in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound pachymetry and noncontact specular microscopy were performed on 26 diabetic patients who regularly use soft contact lenses (group 1), 27 diabetic patients who do not use soft contact lenses (group 2) and 30 normal subjects (group 3). We compared the values in each group using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The central cornea was found to be thicker in diabetic patients, both those who use and do not use contact lenses, than in the normal control group. The central corneal thickness was significantly higher in group 1 (564.73 +/- 35.41 microm) and group 2 (555.76 +/- 45.96 microm) than in the control group (534.05 +/- 27.02 microm), but there was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2. Endothelial cell density was significantly different between the groups, and was smallest in the group of diabetic patients using contact lenses. The coefficient of variation of cell size was significantly higher and the percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly lower in contact lens using diabetic patients than in non-contact lens using diabetic patients and in the control group. CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density is more affected by diabetes mellitus, and corneal endothelial cell morphology is more affected by contact lens use, when compared with normal subjects.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic/*adverse effects ; Cornea/pathology ; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss/*etiology/pathology ; Diabetes Complications/*etiology/pathology ; Endothelium, Corneal/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To describe etiologies and clinical characteristics of corneal opacities leading patients to seek cosmetic treatments. METHODS: The medical records of 401 patients who presented for cosmetic improvement in corneal opacities between May 2004 and July 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. The following parameters were analyzed: age, gender, cause of corneal opacity, time course of the corneal disease, associated diseases, prior and current cosmetic treatments, visual acuity, location and depth of the corneal opacity, and the presence of either corneal neovascularization or band keratopathy. A single practitioner examined all patients. RESULTS: The most common causes of corneal opacity were ocular trauma (203 eyes, 50.6%), retinal disease (62 eyes, 15.5%), measles (38 eyes, 9.5%), and congenital etiologies (22 eyes, 5.5%). Prior treatments included iris colored contact lenses (125 eyes, 31.1%) and corneal tattooing (34 eyes, 8.46%). A total of 321 of 401 eyes underwent cosmetic treatment for corneal opacities. The most common treatment performed after the primary visit was corneal tattooing (261 eyes, 64.92%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of patients presenting for cosmetic treatment of corneal opacities rather than for functional improvement. Various cosmetic interventions are available for patients with corneal opacities, and these should be individualized for the needs of each patient.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*statistics & numerical data ; Color ; Contact Lenses/statistics & numerical data ; Corneal Opacity/*ethnology/etiology/*therapy ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Plastic/*statistics & numerical data ; Tattooing/statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult