Corneal Swelling and Oxygen Flux through a Soft Contact Lens

Key Points

• The aim is to evaluate how oxygen flux affects corneal swelling when using contact lenses.
• Reviewed existing literature on oxygen needs of the cornea.
• Calculated the expected corneal swelling based on oxygen flux rates.
• Determined oxygen tension required to limit swelling below 4%.
• Corneal swelling correlates inversely with oxygen flux.
• A flux of less than 1.5 μl/cm²/hr leads to increased swelling.
• Maintaining an oxygen tension of about 11 mm Hg limits swelling to below 4%.