title: Assessment of ultraviolet B-blocking effects of weekly disposable contact lenses on corneal surface in a mouse model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weekly disposable soft contact lenses have been widely used recently, but their shield effects against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation remain to be evaluated. This study investigated the bioprotective effects of several weekly soft contact lenses against UVB irradiation on the corneal surface in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1) blank control, (2) exposed to UVB without contact lens protection, (3) exposed to UVB and protected with Vifilcon A contact lenses, (4) exposed to UVB and protected with Etafilcon A contact lenses, and (5) exposed to UVB and protected with HEMA+MA contact lenses. The exposure to UVB irradiation was performed at 0.72 J/cm²)/day after anesthesia for a 7-day period, followed by cornea surface assessment for smoothness, opacity, and grading of lissamine green staining. Tissue sections were prepared for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical detection by using antibodies against myeloperoxidase, cytokeratin-5, P63, Ki-67, nuclear factor-kappa B (p65), cyclooxygenase-2, Fas L, and Fas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed impaired corneal surface with myeloperoxidase+ polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration into the stroma after UVB exposure, in contrast to the intact status of the blank controls. The corneas with Etafilcon A and HEMA+MA contact lenses maintained more cells positive for cytokeratin-5, P63, and Ki-67 compared to those with Vifilcon A or without contact lens protection. Furthermore, less proinflammatory factors, including nuclear factor-kappa (p65), cyclooxygenase-2, Fas L, and Fas, were induced in the corneas protected by Etafilcon A and HEMA+MA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated various protective effects of weekly disposable contact lenses against UVB irradiation. The mouse model used in the present study may be used extensively for in vivo assessment of UV shield efficacy.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: David Pei-Cheng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Han-Hsin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Li-Chien
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tzu-Ping
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hsiang-Jui
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lin-Song
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chien-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bo-Yie
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000528:radiation effects; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D023421:Models, Animal; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators