The conjunctival sensitivity in soft contact lens wearers.

We determined the influence of soft contact lenses (SCLs) on conjunctival sensitivity. A total of 26 volunteers (11 males, 15 females; mean age 28.3 ± 4.6 years; range 22-39 years) without dry eye were enrolled in the study. Subjects with a low corneal touch threshold, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, or vernal keratoconjunctivitis were excluded. In 26 participants, 12 were disposable SCL wearers. Touch thresholds were determined using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer with a 0-60 mm nylon monofilament in 5 mm increments. The length (mm) was converted to tension (g/mm(2)). Mean touch sense thresholds in the SCL wearers (n = 12) and non-wearers (n = 14) were 10.7 ± 2.57 and 24.6 ± 7.3 g/mm(2) in the whole conjunctiva, and 9.07 ± 3.02 and 19.2 ± 7.8 g/mm(2) in the upper palpebral conjunctiva, respectively. Significant differences were observed in all locations (p < 0.01). The enhanced conjunctival sensitivity associated with SCL use may contribute to the dry eye-like symptoms in SCL users who do not have dry eye.