Anatomical Considerations
Potentially Adverse Effects

Corneal Striae
Corneal striae are linear opacities in the cornea. They may also be referred to as striae, folds, wrinkles, striate keratopathy, striate corneal lines. The terminology is ambiguous. These are seen as vertically oriented, delicate, translucent lines located at or near the level of Descemet�s membrane. Corneal straie are best seen either with retroillumination or with direct illumination. They are found in up to 50% of soft lens wearers but are very rare in rigid contact lens patients. The reason for this is not completely understood.

Contact-lens-induced corneal striae are shown above graded from +1 to +4. They are quite subtle and can be easily overlooked. Typically they are slender, vertical, and occur in the pre-Descemet's region of the stroma.