Effect of punctal occlusion on tear menisci in symptomatic contact lens wearers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate by ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography the effect of punctal occlusion on tear menisci in symptomatic and asymptomatic contact lens wearers.


METHODS
Symptomatic subjects with self-reported dry eyes (n = 20) and asymptomatic subjects (n = 20) were recruited. For each subject, 1 eye was randomly chosen for both upper and lower punctal occlusion with collagen plugs. Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography imaged both upper and lower tear menisci before punctal occlusion, and 1, 4, 7, and 10 days afterward. Comfort scoring, noninvasive tear break-up time, tear break-up time, and Schirmer test with anesthesia were also performed.


RESULTS
Tear meniscus variables in the symptomatic group were lower than those in the asymptomatic group (P < 0.05) at all time points except for day 4. In the symptomatic group, the tear menisci were increased up to day 4 after punctal occlusion (P < 0.05). The increase was present only on day 1 in the asymptomatic group. Improvement of comfort scores and noninvasive tear break-up time occurred in both groups after occlusion (P < 0.05). The comfort scores were linearly correlated with the tear volumes after punctal occlusion, with higher correlation coefficients in the symptomatic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Punctal occlusion transiently increased tear menisci in symptomatic and asymptomatic lens wearers, with a longer duration in the symptomatic group. For both symptomatic and asymptomatic lens wearers, the increased meniscus volume was associated with improved ocular comfort.
School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Ming
M
Li
Jianhua
J
Wang
Meixiao
M
Shen
Lele
L
Cui
Aizhu
A
Tao
Zhao
Z
Chen
Lili
L
Ge
Fan
F
Lu
D003094:Collagen; D003261:Contact Lenses; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000628:therapy; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult
D003094:Collagen