Determination of oxygen tension on rabbit corneas under contact lenses.

PURPOSE To determine oxygen tension (PO2) on rabbit corneas beneath rigid gas permeable (RGP), hydrogel, and silicone elastomer lenses under open- and closed-eye conditions and to demonstrate the relationship between PO2 and overnight corneal swelling response in the rabbit model. METHODS An improved PO2 monitoring system (PO-2080) with a platinum-micro-wire-electrode was used to measure PO2. An ultrasonic pachymeter (DGH-2000) was used to measure corneal thickness after overnight wear. RESULTS The relationship between PO2 and oxygen transmissibility (Dk/ L) of the contact lens was linear for Dk/L between 0 and 70 x 10(-9) (cm/ sec)(mLO2/mL x mmHg). For Dk/L greater than 70 x 10(-9), PO2 gradually reached a plateau at 120 mmHg for open-eye conditions and 20 mmHg for closed-eye conditions. PO2 was inversely related to the overnight corneal swelling, ranging from 5.1% swelling at PO2 113.5/17.5 mmHg (open/closed-eye) for a hyper Dk/L lens (125 x 10(-9)) to 15.1% swelling at PO2 10.4/5.1 mmHg for a low Dk/L lens (11.5 x 10(-9)). CONCLUSIONS Polarographic determination of PO2 provides reliable information about the amount of oxygen available to the cornea under a lens for both open-eye and closed-eye conditions. The data demonstrate that it is not possible to achieve normal oxygen levels with contact lens wear, even when hyper Dk/L lenses are worn.