Ocular surface microbiome remains stable in contact lens wearers
In healthy individuals, contact lens wear was not associated with significant changes in the ocular surface microbiome, tear protein profile, or standard dry eye measures, according to a study.
Researchers analyzed samples from 25 contact lens wearers and 23 age- and sex-matched controls using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing to profile the ocular surface microbiome, along with proteomic analysis of tears. Across both groups, the dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes, with Cutibacterium acnes identified as the most abundant species.
The study found no significant differences in microbial composition, diversity, or tear protein profiles between groups. Clinical dry eye disease measures, including tear breakup time, Schirmer’s test, tear osmolarity, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), were also similar. However, contact lens wearers showed a trend toward higher subjective symptom scores on the OSDI.
When results were analyzed by sex, male contact lens wearers showed a marginal change in microbial beta diversity compared with male controls, along with higher tear production. Female contact lens wearers reported higher OSDI scores than female controls.
Reference
Kopp OS, Morandi SC, Kreuzer M, Uldry A-C, Eldridge N, Zinkernagel MS, Zysset-Burri DC. Impact of contact lenses on the ocular surface microbiome, tear proteome, and dry eye disease. Microbiol Spectr. 2026;:e0226425. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02264-25. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41636495.
