Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses in Hyperbaric Environments

Abstract

We studied the effects of decompression in a hyperbaric environment on individuals wearing hard, gas-permeable contact lenses. Twenty-four exposures with lenses made of three different materials were carried out in a hyperbaric chamber. The dry air dive profiles were: l50 feet for 30 minutes and 15 minutes, 75 feet for 15 minutes, and 37.5 feet for 15 minutes. Bubbles occurred under all lens types at depths as shallow as 6.5 feet following the least stressful exposure. Physiological corneal changes from bubble formation included corneal dimpling and localized corneal edema. Due to the tissue half-time of the eye, it is doubtful that the bubbles are a result of off-gassing of nitrogen from the eye.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 18, 1987
Accession Number
ADA187744

Entities

People

  • James F. Socks
  • Joseph F. Molinari
  • Joseph L. Rowey

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air
  • Biomedical Research
  • Chambers
  • Contact Lenses
  • Corneal Diseases
  • Divers
  • Diving
  • Environment
  • Gases
  • Hyperbaric Chambers
  • Hyperbaric Conditions
  • Materials
  • Navy
  • Physiology
  • Polymers
  • Visual Acuity

Readers

  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.