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Changes in tear film lipids associated with contact lens discomfort
Lipid supplements may improve comfort levels when wearing contact lenses, according to a study recently published in Optometry and Vision Science.
Rohit and colleagues reported that alterations in the lipid layer of tear film may contribute to contact lens discomfort.
Researchers divided up the 20 participants into groups of symptomatic or asymptomatic contact lenses wearers based on their responses to the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire.
In the first stage of the study, researchers evaluated lipid layer thickness and stability and basal tears after all participants wore soft hydrogel lenses (Focus Dailies, Alcon) bilaterally for 6 to 8 hours. In the second stage of the study, researchers sprayed the symptomatic contact lens wearers with a liposomal spray (Tears Again, BioRevive) and a control saline spray over their upper eyelids during down gaze during lens wear. Researchers assessed lipid layer appearance and stability, basal tears and ocular comfort scores.
Results showed that noninvasive surface drying time (NISDT) was lower in symptomatic contact lens wearers than in asymptomatic contact lens wearers. Additionally, they demonstrated that NISDT increased with the liposomal spray, and that the longer NISDT was associated with an improvement in ocular comfort.
"This pilot study confirms the clinical and biochemical changes in the tear film lipid layer during contact lens wear," the authors concluded. "Moreover, it provides a preliminary observation on the effectiveness of an exogenous lipid supplement on the tear film stability and the concentration of phospholipase enzyme used during contact lens wear. A study using a larger sample size and appropriate power is recommended to draw further conclusions about the effect of lipid supplementation on tear lipidome."
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures. This work was partly supported by the University of New South Wales, the Brien Holden Vision Institute and the Vision Cooperative Research Centre.