Cornea-soft contact lens interaction: a nuclear magnetic resonance study.
Because 31P NMR (phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy can detect phosphorus metabolites and more than 90% of them reside in corneal epithelium, we applied this technique to the examination of the metabolic response of the cornea (epithelium) to soft contact lens (CL) wear. Our results showed that 4 h of soft CL (59% water) wear caused a 50% loss of ATP, and both ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) decreased drastically if the eyes were closed. Topical application of 5.5 mM glucose to CL-fitted eyes restored the 31P profile to nearly normal. Possible approaches for maintaining corneal health are discussed.
Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
H M
HM
Cheng
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
D010725:Phosphocreatine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005947:Glucose