The TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort: report of the subcommittee on neurobiology.
This report characterizes the neurobiology of the ocular surface and highlights relevant mechanisms that may underpin contact lens-related discomfort. While there is limited evidence for the mechanisms involved in contact lens-related discomfort, neurobiological mechanisms in dry eye disease, the inflammatory pathway, the effect of hyperosmolarity on ocular surface nociceptors, and subsequent sensory processing of ocular pain and discomfort have been at least partly elucidated and are presented herein to provide insight in this new arena. The stimulus to the ocular surface from a contact lens is likely to be complex and multifactorial, including components of osmolarity, solution effects, desiccation, thermal effects, inflammation, friction, and mechanical stimulation. Sensory input will arise from stimulation of the lid margin, palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, and the cornea.
School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Fiona
F
Stapleton
Carl
C
Marfurt
Blanka
B
Golebiowski
Mark
M
Rosenblatt
David
D
Bereiter
Carolyn
C
Begley
Darlene
D
Dartt
Juana
J
Gallar
Carlos
C
Belmonte
Pedram
P
Hamrah
Mark
M
Willcox
D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009446:Neurobiology
contact lens; discomfort; dry eye; neurobiology