Purpose

To evaluate corneal stability, measured by computerized videokeratography (CVK) after discontinuation of contact lens wear in preoperative refractive surgery candidates.
Setting

Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute, Houston, Texas, USA.
Methods

Topographic differences were analyzed in 136 noncontact lens wearers (NCLW) and 76 contact lens wearers (CLW) (18 rigid gas-permeable contact lenses [RGPCL], 58 soft contact lenses [SCL]) using EyeSys CVK after discontinuation of SCL wear for 2 weeks and RGPCL wear for 5 weeks.
Results

There were no differences in CVK patterns between the NCLW and the CLW groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in topographic symmetry, asphericity, corneal uniformity index, predicted corneal acuity, and irregular astigmatism. The dioptric range for the axial and the profile difference maps in the CLW group was slightly lower than in the NCLW group.
Conclusion

For patients whose manifest refraction and CVK maps were within 0.5 diopters of earlier values, discontinuation of SCL wear for 2 weeks and RGPCL wear for 5 weeks was adequate for the cornea to return to its baseline topographic state.