Affiliation:
1. Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, Optometry and Vision Science, Centre for Vision and Eye Research, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Queensland Australia
2. School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast Petrie Queensland Australia
Abstract
AbstractPurposeTo quantify the magnitude and recovery of central and limbal corneal oedema induced by short‐term unilateral eyelid closure without contact lens wear.MethodsThe left eye of 10 adults with healthy corneas was patched using a folded eye pad for 30 min. High‐resolution optical coherence tomography images (which captured the limbal and central corneal regions simultaneously) were obtained before patching, immediately after eye opening and again at 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14 and 15 mins after eyelid opening. Oedema was measured from the limbus (scleral spur) to the central cornea (thinnest corneal location) along the horizontal meridian.ResultsA greater amount of limbal oedema was noted (mean [SD] 3.84 [1.79] %) compared to the central cornea (2.48 [0.61] %; p = 0.04) after 30 mins of unilateral eyelid closure. Both central and limbal corneal oedema recovered rapidly following eyelid opening, with no significant differences in the rate of corneal recovery between corneal locations (p = 0.90).ConclusionsShort‐term unilateral eyelid closure resulted in ~55% more relative oedema in the limbal region compared to the central cornea. Rapid recovery of oedema and corneal overshoot (thinning beyond the baseline corneal thickness) was observed within 1–2 min of eyelid opening for both central and peripheral regions.
Funder
Queensland University of Technology