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Three hydrogel contact lenses of measured oxygen transmissibility (Dk/L = 20, 12, and 6 x 10(-9) cm ml O2/s ml mm Hg, respectively) were used to induce central corneal swelling as measured by optical pachometry in five human subjects under open-eye conditions (8 h wear). Both contact lenses with higher Dk/L values induced mean central corneal swelling of about 1.5%. The lower Dk/L lens induced a mean central corneal swelling of 2.2%. However, statistical analysis of the differences in central corneal swelling between the lens-wearing and the control eyes indicates that swelling induced by the higher Dk/L lenses is not identical, and indicates that even a Dk/L of 20 x 10(-9) is insufficient to reduce corneal swelling to zero. This suggests that the "critical oxygen tension" (COT) could be in excess of 20 to 40 mm Hg, but not necessarily as high as 70 mm Hg.