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Study shows no link between corneal staining and contact lens comfort
Optom Vis Sci. 2009;86(3):260-265.
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Identifying ocular symptoms may be more accurate than comfort scores in predicting corneal staining.
"The lack of correlation between corneal staining and lens comfort stresses the need for regular contact lens checkups in [gas permeable] lens wearers," the study authors said.
The study included 55 gas permeable contact lens wearers with and without corneal staining and 26 non-lens wearers. Investigators used a specially designed image grading scale to gauge corneal staining; the Efron grading scale to rate bulbar hyperemia and conjunctival staining; a visual analog scale to assess ocular comfort and lens comfort; and a questionnaire to distinguish symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Eyes with conjunctival staining showed more corneal staining than eyes with no conjunctival staining. Results showed no association between staining in the nasal and temporal areas of the cornea in patients with significant 3- and 9-o'clock staining. Additionally, data showed no relationship between visual analog scale comfort scores and corneal staining.
"In those subjects with substantial 3- and 9-o'clock staining, symptomatic subjects showed more corneal staining than asymptomatic subjects," the authors said. "Practitioners are advised to evaluate both the nasal and temporal regions of the cornea when assessing 3- and 9-o'clock staining, and they should be hesitant to rely on the amount of bulbar hyperemia for the prediction of the severity of 3- and 9-o'clock staining."