It has been assumed that contact lens wear (CLW) may induce stromal acidosis, which is a result of corneal hypoxia and the accumulation of CO2 (hypercapnia) at the tear-lens interface. However, it has not been directly shown whether hypoxia and hypercapnia are the only causes of CL-Induced corneal acidification. In this study, we provide preliminary data about the relative contributions of hypercapnia and hypoxia to CL-induced stromal acidification by monitoring pH while the cornea was exposed to a hyperbaric oxygen atmosphere. This paradigm minimized if not eliminated the pH effects of lens-induced hypoxia on all but one subject without altering the pH effect of hypercapnia. Seven subjects were fitted with hydrogel lenses; 5 with low O2 transmissibility (Dk/LO2 = 14.0 x 10(-9) (cm/s) (ml O2/[ml x mm Hg)]), and 2 with medium O2 transmissibility (Dk/LO2 = 17.2 x 10(-9) (cm/s) (ml O2/[ml x mm Hg])) lenses. After lens insertion, modified goggles were fitted to control the corneal environment by exposing 1 eye to 20%O2 and 80%N2 (air), and the contralateral eye to 80%O2 and 20%N2 (hyperbaric O2). Corneal thickness (CT) was measured before CL insertion and over 120 min of wear. We assumed that corneal hypoxia was present if CT increased during the test period. Stromal pH was measured using a slitlamp fluorophotometer before lens insertion and at 20-min intervals for a total of 80 min. After 80 min of wearing the low Dk/L lens under hyperbaric exposure, 4 of 5 subjects showed reduced pH (mean delta pH = 0.23 +/- 0.05) and no increase in CT, suggesting that only hypercapnia was contributing to acidosis. For the same lens, but with exposure to air, 4 of 5 subjects showed a larger drop in pH (mean delta pH = 0.62 +/- 0.48) compared to hyperbaric exposure and an increase in CT, indicating that both hypoxia and hypercapnia reduced pH. Subjects wearing the medium Dk/L lens showed a small but equal drop in pH under both air and hyperbaric conditions without changes in CT, suggesting that only hypercapnia was contributing to acidosis. These preliminary results suggest that both mechanisms contribute to the pH shift accompanying CLW and that the contribution of hypercapnia is approximately 30%. Finally, the effects of hypercapnia and hypoxia are dependent on individual metabolic requirements and the transmissibility of the lens to O2 and CO2.