Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of this study was to examine the biocompatibility of various lens care products with silicone hydrogel (SiHy) lenses in a rat model.
Methods: :
Lewis rats were fitted and wore a lotrafilcon B lens for 8 hours that was previously soaked overnight in either AQuify MPS (A), ReNu MultiPlus (B), ReNu with MoistureLoc (C), OptiFree Express (D), Complete Comfort Plus (E), PBS (F) or ClearCare (G). Corneal tissue was taken for real time PCR analysis at 8 hours after exposure of the cornea to the various solution–soaked lenses.
Results: :
Analysis of the cytokine data by lens solution provided evidence that group D showed the highest increase (2 fold or greater) in mRNA for IL–1α and ß, IL–1RA, CINC–1, (IL–8 in human), IL–6 and MMP–9; groups B, C and E also showed elevated levels of the cytokines and MMP–9 but to lesser degree. mRNA levels for cytokines and MMP–9 after exposure to solutions A and G were similar to PBS. IL–10 mRNA levels were elevated for all solutions tested, but appeared greater for solutions D and E, while IL–18 levels did not appear to be significantly changed, despite the lens solution tested.
Conclusions: :
Lens care solutions used with SiHy lenses can elevate host cytokine levels in the cornea to different degrees, dependent on the type of lens care product that is used. This may contribute to contact lens associated adverse events. Aquify MPS and ClearCare were the least likely to stimulate host system inflammatory mediators when used with lotrafilcon B lenses.
Keywords: contact lens • cytokines/chemokines • gene/expression