Hi Docs,

I am asking this question for a friend ... How can you tell if you have metabolic waste under your rgp's? What is the cause and what can help? I appreciate your responses

The ocular surface is made up of living tissue. It breathes, eats, is constantly replacing itself and has ways of getting rid of its waste. The metabolic waste on the ocular surface includes carbon dioxide, dead cells from the tissues, lactic acid if a contact lens causes a reduction in available oxygen, etc. With an RGP the waste is usually flushed out with blinking and the tears cart it away. A tight RGP will not let the waste leave and the environment becomes hostile. The cornea can get irritated or even abraded, comfort decreases as the cornea can swell and it leave the ocular surface vulnerable to serious infection. I hope this gave some insight to your question. JM