Bulbar conjunctival fluorescein staining in hydrogel contact lens wearers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of bulbar conjunctival staining in assessing hydrogel contact lens patients.


METHODS
Overall staining, as well as staining at five separate sites (limbal, nasal band, temporal band, superior, and inferior) was graded on an analog scale in 48 contact lens wearing subjects and 50 controls. The degree to which subjects experienced sensations of dryness, wateriness, itchiness, grittiness, and comfort was also assessed using analog scales.


RESULTS
Some measure of conjunctival staining was noted in 98% of subjects, with contact lens wearers showing statistically significant greater staining than controls. Only 12% of controls showed staining of greater than grade 1 (equivalent), whereas 62% of contact lens wearers were above this level. Regression analysis showed that overall staining was a function of whether contact lenses were worn, the degree of dryness, and the amount of itchiness.


CONCLUSIONS
Conjunctival fluorescein staining appears to serve some clinical usefulness as a composite indicator for certain factors and symptoms and, in addition, provides information which is unique for each individual.
Lakkis
C
C
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Brennan
N A
NA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D009915:Orbit; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
D005452:Fluoresceins; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D019793:Fluorescein