Determination of microdot stromal degenerations within corneas of long-term contact lens wearers by confocal microscopy.

Purpose: To ascertain whether a relationship exists between the presence of microdot deposits within the corneal stroma of long-term contact lens wearers as seen by confocal microscopy and the contact lens wear time, material, or other patient variables.

Methods: Thirty-six myopic patients with a 15- to 43-year history of hard, rigid gas-permeable, or soft hydrogel contact lens wear and 12 age-matched emmetropic or spectacle-corrected myopic volunteers were included in this study. The numerical density and size of microdot deposits within the anterior, mid, and posterior stroma were determined with the confocal microscope, and the data were subjected to multiple regression statistical analysis.