The Impact of Soft Contact Lenses on the Corneal Neuromediators and Optical Quality in High Myopia Prior to SMILE

The Impact of Soft Contact Lenses on the Corneal Neuromediators and Optical Quality in High Myopia Prior to SMILE

To investigate the influence of Neuromediators expression in corneal stromal lenticules and corneal injury repair after small incision extraction

This study included 160 eyes from high myopia patients who underwent Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. Patients were devided into three groups based on duration of wearing SCLs: > 10 years group, ≤ 10 years group, and NW group (not SCLs). Corneal higher-order aberrations and densitometry were evaluated using a Pentacam system. Neuromediator levels in corneal stromal lenticules were analyzed using ELISA and immunofluorescence

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥ 18 years with stable refraction for at least two years;
• spherical equivalent (SE) < -6.00 D;
• corrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better;
• no history of using rigid gas permeable lenses or orthokeratology (OK) lenses prior to examination

Exclusion Criteria:

- a history of moderate to severe dry eye as well as any ocular or systemic disease that would contraindicate laser refractive surgery.