Tear film inflammatory mediators during continuous wear of contact lenses and corneal refractive therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To study changes in tear film inflammatory mediators following continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses and corneal refractive therapy with reverse geometry contact lenses.


METHODS
A prospective, case-control study.


METHODS
Twenty-eight subjects had worn silicone-hydrogel lenses on a 30-night continuous wear basis. Thirty-two subjects had worn corneal refractive therapy lenses on an overnight basis. Thirty-two matched control subjects were also recruited. Tear samples were obtained 12 months after initial fitting and assayed using ELISA for cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).


RESULTS
EGF was significantly increased 12 months after both interventions. IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-9 were significantly increased only after corneal refractive therapy. The inflammatory response for the corneal refractive therapy patients was found to be associated with the degree of myopia corrected and the presence of corneal staining. Moreover, an increased level of MMP-9 and EGF was found to be associated with the presence of corneal-pigmented arc in the corneal refractive therapy group.


CONCLUSIONS
This research showed long-term increased tear levels of inflammatory markers in subjects wearing corneal refractive therapy lenses when compared with continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses or no lens wear.
Ocular Surface and Contact Lens Research Laboratory, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 A Coruña, Spain. javier.gonzalez@usc.es
Javier
J
González-Pérez
César
C
Villa-Collar
Tomás
T
Sobrino Moreiras
Isabel
I
Lema Gesto
José Manuel
JM
González-Méijome
María Teresa
MT
Rodríguez-Ares
Manuel
M
Parafita
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009216:Myopia / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D015415:Biomarkers; D005136:Eye Proteins; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; C042434:tear proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9