MR in vivo imaging of oxygen suppression effect of soft contact lens on the human cornea

The O2 suppression effect of a soft contact lens on the human cornea was measured using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the anterior chamber transcorneally exposed to O2. Dynamic T1-weighted fast spin echo imaging of anterior chambers (TR = 2 s, TE = 15 ms, 5-mm slice) was performed both before and during oxygen supply to a full goggle placed on the face of volunteers wearing a soft contact lens on one eye and nothing on the other eye as a control. Within 15 min after O2 administration, significantly lower intensity changes were obtained in the anterior chambers of the eyes with the contact lens than in those of the eyes without one, suggesting that dynamic MRI of the anterior chamber transcorneally exposed to O2 can be used to evaluate the O2 suppression effect of a soft contact lens on the cornea.