Vicente Martín-Montañez1, Alberto López-de la Rosa2, Alberto López-Miguel3, José Pinto-Fraga1, José M González-Méijome4, María J González-García5. 1. Ocular Surface Group, IOBA, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain; CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Spain. 2. Ocular Surface Group, IOBA, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain. 3. Ocular Surface Group, IOBA, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain; VISION I+D, SL, Valladolid, Spain. 4. Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Laboratory, Center of Physics, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. 5. Ocular Surface Group, IOBA, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain; CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Spain. Electronic address: mjgonzalez@ioba.med.uva.es.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the relationship among the variables intensity of the end-of-day (EOD) dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in soft contact lens (CL) wearers. METHODS: Thirty-eight soft CL wearers (25 women and 13 men; mean age 27.1±7.2 years) were enrolled. EOD dryness was assessed using a scale of 0-5 (0, none to 5, very intense). Mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) sensitivity were measured using a Belmonte's gas esthesiometer. The blink rate was recorded using a video camera while subjects were wearing a hydrogel CL and watching a film for 90 min in a controlled environmental chamber. RESULTS: A significant inverse correlation was found between EOD dryness and mechanical sensitivity (r: -0.39; p=0.02); however, there were no significant correlations between EOD dryness and thermal sensitivity. A significant (r: 0.56; p<0.001) correlation also was observed between EOD dryness and blink rate, but no correlations were found between blink rate and mechanical or thermal sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: CL wearers with higher corneal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation reported more EOD dryness with habitual CL wear. Moreover, subjects reporting more EOD dryness had an increased blink rates during wear of a standard CL type. The increased blink rate could act to improve the ocular surface environment and relieve symptoms.
PURPOSE: To study the relationship among the variables intensity of the end-of-day (EOD) dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in soft contact lens (CL) wearers. METHODS: Thirty-eight soft CL wearers (25 women and 13 men; mean age 27.1±7.2 years) were enrolled. EOD dryness was assessed using a scale of 0-5 (0, none to 5, very intense). Mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) sensitivity were measured using a Belmonte's gas esthesiometer. The blink rate was recorded using a video camera while subjects were wearing a hydrogel CL and watching a film for 90 min in a controlled environmental chamber. RESULTS: A significant inverse correlation was found between EOD dryness and mechanical sensitivity (r: -0.39; p=0.02); however, there were no significant correlations between EOD dryness and thermal sensitivity. A significant (r: 0.56; p<0.001) correlation also was observed between EOD dryness and blink rate, but no correlations were found between blink rate and mechanical or thermal sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: CL wearers with higher corneal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation reported more EOD dryness with habitual CL wear. Moreover, subjects reporting more EOD dryness had an increased blink rates during wear of a standard CL type. The increased blink rate could act to improve the ocular surface environment and relieve symptoms.
Authors: Nery García-Porta; Laura Rico-Del-Viejo; Alba Martin-Gil; Gonzalo Carracedo; Jesus Pintor; José Manuel González-Méijome Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2016-08-31 Impact factor: 3.411