How long does it take my cornea to grow back?

Question

I am currently wearing contact lens, I heard from a friend that each time I take out a contact lens, it peels off a layer of my cornea. He did say it would grow back after a while, I was just wondering how long does it really take for cornea to regenerate. I was also thinking of having lasik, what is the shortest amount of time I should stop wearing contacts before the surgery?

Answer 1

There are some myths out there, aren't there?

The top six cell layers of the cornea, the epithelium, are continually being replaced, with the dead cells dropping of, contact lenses or no...
(Just like skin)

A good contact lens, not misused, does not remove massively more cells than normal.
In fact one problem with contacts, especially the sleep-in versions, can be cell debris building up under the lens if there is not enough tear circulation.

I suggest "shortest time" is definitely not the way to approach a refraction that is going to determine your vision for a lifetime. Two weeks for soft lenses would be pretty safe, but for gas permeable hard lenses a cautious person would recommend a month or more.

Answer 2

Your friend is wrong, unless you actually scrape your cornea with a fingernail you will not damage it by removing contacts.

Your LASIK surgeon will inform you of how long to go without contacts before surgery.

Answer 3

What rubbish! None of your layers of corneal tissue peel off after taking lenses out. Your cornea is fine. 2 weeks is the amount of time you have to leave out your lenses before laser surgery.

Answer 4

The corneal epithelium can regenerate in 24 hours.
Follow the surgeons advice.

Answer 5

My optician told me that layers of your cornea only get damaged when you remove your contacts after sleeping in them. In regular use, they are not actually stuck to your eye so there is no damage.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_long-term_contact_lens_wear_on_the_cornea

Answer 7

cghkck,