Abstract
Purpose :
To determine whether a novel binocular evaporimeter is able to detect changes in tear evaporation rate (TER) before and while wearing delefilcon A and nesofilcon A contact lenses (CL).
Methods :
The evaporimeter consists of a pair of swimming goggles modified with a temperature and relative humidity (RH) sensor embedded in both the right and left goggle lenses. For each measurement, the evaporimeter goggles were positioned and held tightly over the palpebral aperture of both eyes (to ensure an air-tight seal) for 20 seconds. There were two measurement conditions: Open Eye, during which the participants blinked every 3 seconds, and Closed Eye, when the eyes were closed. The difference between the Open and Closed Eye measurements was used to determine the TER from the ocular surface. TER was calculated as the slope of the change in RH in the period 5 to 13 seconds after the evaporimeter was placed over the eyes. Three repeated measurements were taken and averaged together. Two baseline TER measurements were recorded (15-minute interval) prior to CL insertion. Participants were randomized for delefilcon and nesofilcon CL lens wear in either eye. TER was measured after 15 minutes and ≥6 hours of CL wear. Measurements over time and between CL types were compared using repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. (Mean±SD: Ambient temperature, 23.2±1.1°C; RH, 43.9±7.7%).
Results :
Twenty habitual CL wearers (mean age: 28 years, range 18-71, 95% female) completed the study. Both evaporimeter sensors were able to detect a significant change in TER over time (right: p=0.003, left; p<0.0001). TER was significantly higher after 15 minutes (right: p=0.035, left: p<0.0001) and 6 hours of CL wear (right: p=0.002, left: p=0.001), compared to second baseline measurement. Both CLs showed a significant increase in TER between 15 minutes and 6 hours of lens wear (p=0.001). No significant difference in TER was observed between delefilcon and nesofilcon (p=0.770).
Conclusions :
The novel evaporimeter was able to simultaneously measure TER from both eyes. TER significantly increased when CLs were worn and was highest after ≥6 hours of CL wear. No significant differences in TER were found between delefilcon A and nesofilcon A, which suggests that contemporary daily disposable CL materials behave in a similar manner with regards to their impact on TER, regardless of water content or material.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.