Original Article Biometric Risk Factors for Corneal Neovascularization Associated with Hydrogel Soft Contact Lens Wear in Korean Myopic Patients

Purpose: To investigate the biometric risk factors for corneal surface complications associated with hydrogel soft contact lens (SCL) fitting in myopic patients in Korea. Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study. The records of 124 subjects (124 eyes) who wore SCLs on a daily basis were reviewed. Thirty-one patients (31 eyes) who were diagnosed with corneal neovasculariza-tion (NV) while wearing SCLs were included in the complication group. Ninety-three age- and sex-matched patients (93 eyes) who wore SCLs, who did not have corneal NV and who visited our clinic for correction of re-fractive errors were included in the control group. The degree of spherical equivalent, astigmatism and corneal base curve radius (BCR) were compared in both groups. Results: Patients with NV exhibited poorer best corrected visual acuity and more myopia than controls (p = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively). In univariate analysis, highly myopic patients (-9 diopters [D] or higher) were more likely to experience NV (odds ratio [OR], 2.232; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.602 to 3.105). High astigmatism (≥2 D) increased the risk of complications (OR, 2.717; 95 % CI, 1.141 to 6.451). Steep cornea, in which BCR was <7.5 mm, also raised the risk of complications (OR, 4.000; 95 % CI, 1.661 to 9.804). Flat cornea was not a risk factor for the development of NV. Conclusions: High myopia, high astigmatism, and steep cornea seemed to be risk factors in the developmen