Tear Film Surface Quality with Soft Contact Lenses Using Dynamic Videokeratoscopy

Abstract

Purpose To investigate changes in tear film surface quality after commencing soft contact lens wear. Methods Tear film surface quality (TSQ) was assessed during the interblink period using dynamic videokeratoscopy at 25 Hz. A quantitative value of TSQ is derived for each raw Placido ring image. Eleven young subjects with normal tear characteristics participated in the study. Dynamic videokeratoscopy was taken three times per day; in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the afternoon. This was done on two baseline days (bare eye) and on the first and seventh days of lens wear for a conventional hydrogel lens and following a week of no lens wear, for a further week of silicone hydrogel lens wear. Additionally clinical tests to assess TSQ were conducted and subjects were also asked to rate the subjective dryness of their eyes. Results All lens wear measurements showed a significant worsening of TSQ compared to bare eye measurements (repeated measures ANOVA, P<0.01). A significant diurnal change was found on the first day of silicone hydrogel contact lens wear, where TSQ improved during the day ( P=0.045). However, no diurnal changes were found in TSQ for the other lens wearing days or for the bare eye condition ( P>0.05). The subjective rating of dryness correlated with TSQ values (Pearson's r=0.62, P<0.05) for the bare eye condition, but not during contact lens wear. TSQ derived from the right and left bare eyes of the same individuals showed a significant correlation (Pearson's r=0.61, P<0.05). Conclusions The measurement of TSQ using dynamic videokeratoscopy differentiates between bare eye and lens wearing conditions. It also shows a small systematic improvement in tear surface quality during the first day of silicone hydrogel lens wear and a significant association with subjective dryness for the bare eye condition.