title: A class I (Senofilcon A) soft contact lens prevents UVB-induced ocular effects, including cataract, in the rabbit in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  UVB radiation from sunlight is known to be a risk factor for human cataract. The purpose in this study was to investigate the ability of a class I UV-blocking soft contact lens to protect against UVB-induced effects on the ocular tissues of the rabbit in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes of rabbits were exposed to UVB light for 30 minutes (270-360 nm, peak at 310 nm, 1.7 mW/cm(2) on the cornea). Eyes were irradiated in the presence of either a UV-blocking senofilcon A contact lens, a minimally UV-blocking lotrafilcon A contact lens, or no contact lens at all. Effects on the cornea and lens were evaluated at various times after exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eyes irradiated with no contact lens protection showed corneal epithelial cell loss plus lens epithelial cell swelling, vacuole formation, and DNA single-strand breaks, as well as lens anterior subcapsular opacification. The senofilcon A lens protected nearly completely against the UVB-induced effects, whereas the lotrafilcon A lens showed no protection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that use of a senofilcon A contact lens is beneficial in protecting ocular tissues of the rabbit against the harmful effects of UVB light, including photokeratitis and cataract.
authors.affiliation: Eye Research Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4480, USA. giblin@oakland.edu
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giblin
authors.forename: Li-Ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Victor R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Leverenz
authors.forename: Loan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016923:Cell Death; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020100:Hydrogels; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012828:Silicones; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D012828:Silicones; C523196:senofilcon A