Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity to air stimuli.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the repeatability of ocular surface sensitivity to mechanical stimulation using air stimuli and the effect of contact lens (CL) wear on sensitivity.


METHODS
Repeatability: 14 subjects (24-39 years) participated. Mechanical sensitivity to warmed (34 degrees C) and ambient (20 degrees C) air was measured for the central cornea (CC), inferior cornea (IC), and inferior conjunctiva (ICON). Measurements were taken on 12 days; six morning and six afternoon measurements. Differences between sites, time of day, and stimulus temperature were evaluated. CL wear: 10 subjects (22-30 years) participated. Measurements were taken at the same time of day, either following no wear, wear of a CL of oxygen permeability [Dk] of 28 x 10(-9) [cm/s][ml O(2)/ml mm Hg] or wear of a CL of Dk 140 x 10(-9) [cm/s][ml O(2)/ml mm Hg]. Differences between sites and wear conditions were evaluated.


RESULTS
Repeatability: Sensitivity varied between sites (p<0.01), time of day (p<0.05), and stimulus temperatures (p<0.01). There were no significant differences between days. Mean thresholds for eye temperature stimuli were; CC 64.4 (SD 28.6) ml/min; IC 84.6 (40.0) ml/min; ICON 120.6 (40.4) ml/min and for ambient temperature stimuli were CC 53.9 (16.0) ml/min, IC 59.0 (20.0) ml/min; ICON 72.6 (43.7) ml/min. CL wear: Sensitivity varied between sites and wear conditions (p<0.05). Conjunctival sensitivity was increased after wear of highly oxygen permeable CLs but unaffected by wear of low oxygen permeable CLs.


CONCLUSIONS
The prototype gas aesthesiometer is able to repeatably measure ocular surface sensitivity and measurements are consistent with previously reported techniques.
Stapleton
F
F
Vision CRC, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia. F.Stapleton@visioncrc.org
Tan
M E
ME
Papas
E B
EB
Ehrmann
K
K
Golebiowski
B
B
Vega
J
J
Holden
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000502:physiology*; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology; D010539:Permeability; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature
D010100:Oxygen