Patient-Reported Wearing Experience From Hydrogel Daily Disposable Wearers Older Than 40 Years From the TEMPO Registry

TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of contact lenses on the ocular surface

Several lifestyle choices made by contact lens wearers can have adverse consequences on ocular health. These include being non-adherent to contact lens care, sleeping in lenses, ill-advised purchasing options, not seeing an eyecare professional for regular aftercare visits, wearing lenses when feeling unwell, wearing lenses too soon after various forms of ophthalmic surgery, and wearing lenses when engaged in risky behaviors (e.g., when using tobacco, alcohol or recreational drugs). Those with a pre-existing compromised ocular surface may find that contact lens wear exacerbates ocular disease morbidity. Conversely, contact lenses may have various therapeutic benefits. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impinged upon the lifestyle of contact lens wearers, introducing challenges such as mask-associated dry eye, contact lens discomfort with increased use of digital devices, inadvertent exposure to hand sanitizers, and reduced use of lenses. Wearing contact lenses in challenging environments, such as in the presence of dust and noxious chemicals, or where there is the possibility of ocular trauma (e.g., sport or working with tools) can be problematic, although in some instances lenses can be protective. Contact lenses can be worn for sport, theatre, at high altitude, driving at night, in the military and in space, and special considerations are required when prescribing in such situations to ensure successful outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis, incorporated within the review, identified that the influence of lifestyle factors on soft contact lens dropout remains poorly understood, and is an area in need of further research. Overall, this report investigated lifestyle-related choices made by clinicians and contact lens wearers and discovered that when appropriate lifestyle choices are made, contact lens wear can enhance the quality of life of wearers.

Effect of material and care system combination on subclinical inflammation of the ocular surface in soft contact lens wear

PURPOSE

To investigate the ocular subclinical inflammatory response in two soft contact lens materials when used in combination with two different care systems ('solutions').

METHODS

Fifteen established soft contact lens wearers wore each of two lenses: Acuvue® 2 (CH) and Acuvue® Oasys® (SiH) or no lenses in random sequence for one week. Two care systems were used: a peroxide system: Oxysept 1 Step® (P) for the right lens and Opti-Free® Replenish® (MPS) for the left lens. After one week of lens/no lens wear, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of corneal and conjunctival regions was carried out. Density of presumed dendritic cells (DC) and 'white spots' (WS) were quantified. Impression cytology of the bulbar and upper eyelid margin conjunctivae was carried out and samples were analysed for CD45+, CD3+ and CD11c+ cells.

RESULTS

The SiH + MPS combination showed a greater inflammatory response compared to SiH + P in seven out of 12 parameters investigated (p < 0.05). The remaining five were not statistically different between the two solutions. The converse was found for the CH lens, with four of the 12 parameters showing a greater response with the P solution compared to the MPS (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the SiH lens investigated demonstrated an upregulated response when used with a MPS compared to a P solution whereas the converse is true for the CH lens which showed a reduced response when used with a MPS compared to a P solution. This finding aids in the understanding of the biological underpinnings of manifest corneal inflammatory events during contact lens wear.

Presbyopia and the aging eye: Existing refractive approaches and their potential impact on dry eye signs and symptoms

Every part of the human body is subject to aging, including the eye. An increased prevalence of dry eye disease with age is widely acknowledged. Aging threatens ocular surface homeostasis, altering the normal functioning of the lacrimal functional unit and potentially leading to signs and symptoms of dry eye. Additional age-related processes take place within the crystalline lens, leading to presbyopia and cataractogenesis. Correction strategies for presbyopia and cataracts may directly or indirectly challenge the ocular surface. Contact lenses disturb the normal structure of the tear film and can interact negatively with the ocular surface, further deteriorating an already unbalanced tear film in presbyopes, however, newer contact lens designs can overcome some of these issues. Moreover, cataract and corneal refractive surgeries sever corneal nerves and disrupt the corneal epithelium and ocular surface, which can influence surgical outcomes and aggravate dryness symptoms in older age groups. This review summarises the current understanding of how the invasive nature of contact lens wear and cataract and refractive surgery influence signs and symptoms of ocular dryness in an aging population.