The Effects of Cheap Tinted Contact Lenses on Corneal Swelling and Ocular Surface Inflammation.
10.3341/jkos.2008.49.12.1888
- Author:
Jong Suk SONG
1
;
Hwa LEE
;
Jung Wan KIM
;
Mun Hee CHANG
;
Suk Kyu HA
;
Hyo Myung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. crisim@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Corneal swelling;
Lactate dehydrogenase;
Ocular surface inflammation;
Scanning electron microscope;
Tinted contact lens
- MeSH:
Contact Lenses;
Electrons;
Eye;
Hydrogel;
Inflammation;
Korea;
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase;
Rabbits;
Silicones
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2008;49(12):1888-1893
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of cheap tinted contact lenses on corneal swelling and ocular surface inflammation, compared to hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. METHODS: Forty eyes of 20 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Two types of tinted contact lenses, hydrogel lenses, and silicone hydrogel lenses were each applied to 10 rabbit eyes. Corneal thickness and tear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear, and the inflammation of ocular surface was scored at 4 days after contact lens wear. The internal surface of the cheap tinted lens was examined with a scanning electron microscope to compare the surface quality between the tinted and non-tinted area. RESULTS: Although the corneal swelling of the silicone hydrogel lens group was significantly lower than the other 3 lens groups after contact lens wear (p<0.01), the common hydrogel lens group was not different from the 2 tinted contact lens groups (p>0.1). Tear LDH activity at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (p>0.29). The scores of ocular surface inflammation in the 2 tinted contact lens groups were greater than the hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lens groups (p=0.03). The scanning electron microscope revealed the internal surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens was coarse and irregular though the surface of the non-tinted area was relatively smooth. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding corneal swelling and tear LDH activity, the cheap tinted contact lenses used in Korea were not significantly different from the common hydrogel contact lenses. However, tinted contact lenses showed a greater tendency to provoke ocular surface inflammation than other lenses. The coarse and irregular surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens appears to play a role in provoking severe ocular surface inflammation.
