Effect of conventional hard and hydrophilic soft contact lenses on the corneal epithelium. Comparative study in tissue culture.

The evolution of pathological changes in the corneal epithelium may be studied by tissue culture methods. We have examined the effects of conventional hard contact lenses and hydrophilic soft lenses, in order to study the effect of the direct pressure of such lenses on the corneal epithelium and the effect of prolonged oxygen deprivation on cell growth. We have also observed the time of onset of degenerative changes and the time that elapses before the cells of the corneal epithelium are completely destroyed.