Biomaterial Database

Corneal edema in divers wearing hard contact lenses. 1978

D R Simon, and M E Bradley

Polymethylmethacrylate (hard) contact lens-wearing Navy divers involved in hyperbaric research complained of ocular discomfort, halos, specular highlights, and decreased visual acuity during and immediately after the decompression phase of dry chamber dives. These symptoms were related to bubbles in the tear film between the cornea and hard contact lens. The bubbles developed during the decompression phase of the dive and represented the trapping (by the hard contact lens) of nitrogen outgassing from the cornea and precorneal tear film. The bubbles effected nummular patches of corneal epithelial edema persisting up to two hours after diving. Gas trapping and corneal edema were not observed in uncovered corneas or corneas covered with membrane lenses.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009326	Naval Medicine	The practice of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the health of individuals associated with the marine environment.	Nautical Medicine,Medicine, Nautical,Medicine, Naval
D003261	Contact Lenses	Lenses designed to be worn on the front surface of the eyeball. (UMDNS, 1999)	Lenses, Contact,Contact Lens,Lens, Contact
D003263	Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic	Soft, supple contact lenses made of plastic polymers which interact readily with water molecules. Many types are available, including continuous and extended-wear versions, which are gas-permeable and easily sterilized.	Lenses, Contact, Hydrophilic,Soft Contact Lenses,Hydrophilic Contact Lens,Soft Contact Lens,Contact Lens, Hydrophilic,Contact Lens, Soft,Contact Lenses, Soft,Hydrophilic Contact Lenses,Lens, Hydrophilic Contact,Lens, Soft Contact,Lenses, Hydrophilic Contact,Lenses, Soft Contact
D003316	Corneal Diseases	Diseases of the cornea.	Corneal Disease,Disease, Corneal,Diseases, Corneal
D004242	Diving	An activity in which the organism plunges into water. It includes scuba and bell diving. Diving as natural behavior of animals goes here, as well as diving in decompression experiments with humans or animals.	Divings
D004487	Edema	Abnormal fluid accumulation in TISSUES or body cavities. Most cases of edema are present under the SKIN in SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE.	Dropsy,Hydrops,Anasarca
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults