RESUMO
PURPOSE: To investigate the recovery time associated with refractive and corneal topographic changes after discontinuing short term wear of reverse-geometry contact lenses in low and moderate myopic patients. METHODS: Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients who were fitted with Ortho-K LK(TM) lenses for a mean duration of 7.9 months were divided into two groups based on the mean manifest refraction (MR) of -3.50D. In groups I (mean MR -2.83D) and II (mean MR -4.00D), uncorrected visual acuity, refractive correction, and topographic changes were evaluated at 3 days; 1, 2, and 3 weeks; and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after discontinuation of lens wear. Corneal thickness was measured at its center and 3.0 mm from its center. RESULTS: The uncorrected visual acuity, mean spherical equivalent, and average apical keratometric indices recovered at 2 weeks and 1 month after discontinuation of lens wear in groups I and II, respectively. Mean Sim K and corneal thickness recovered at 1 and 2 weeks in groups I and II, respectively. All of the recovered indices remained stable at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of corneal changes after short-term use of reverse-geometry lenses was achieved at 2 weeks in cases of low myopia (less than -3.50D) and at 1 month in cases of moderate myopia (more than -3.50D), with both remaining stable to the 6-month mark.