Abstract
Purpose :
The impact of soft contact lens wear on the cornea and its physiology is well-studied, however little is known about the potential changes of tarsal conjunctiva due to contact lens wear. It has been associated with giant papillary conjunctivitis, lid-wiper epitheliopathy and decrease of Meibomian glands. This study aims to follow morphological changes in the optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based image of the conjunctival sac due to contact lens wear. Temporal changes in the lower tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD) and OCT-based tear clearance rate (TCR) were inspected.
Methods :
Subjects were fitted with daily disposable soft contact lenses (Delefilcon A or Omafilcon A). Fifty-two subjects (36 F/16 M) aged 25.7 ± 4.4 y.o. volunteered for the study consisting of 3 visits (Day 1 (baseline), 3 months and 6 months of contact lens wear). Spectral OCT (Copernicus, Optopol, Poland) was used to capture scans of the central inferior tear meniscus and eyelid margin without the contact lens. A custom-written software and newly-developed methodology was used to evaluate temporal changes in the tear meniscus post 5 µl saline solution topical instillation. Trends of tear meniscus morphology were used to assess TCR as a percentage decrease in TMH 30 seconds after saline instillation.
Results :
The figure shows dynamic changes in the tear meniscus height after saline solution instillation during each of the visits. As displayed in the table, a downward trend was observed for all the considered ocular measures. Post-hoc analysis showed statistically significant differences in TMH (with P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.002, for Day 1 and 3-month, Day 1 and 6-month and 3-month and 6-month visit, respectively) and TMD (P = 0.001, between Day 1 and 6-month visit). Differences in TCR were noted between Day 1 and 3-month visit (P=0.016) and Day 1 and 6-month visit (P=0.016).
Conclusions :
Changes in the lower tear meniscus morphology and OCT-based tear clearance during contact lens wear were observed. Contact lens wear may induce morphological changes in tarsal conjunctiva. It is speculated that this might be due to conjunctival swelling caused by friction or lower level of oxygenation in that area.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.