Tear meniscus dynamics in soft contact lens wearers assessed by advanced imaging techniques

Tear meniscus parameters, particularly turbidity and the percentage area occupied by particles (PAOP), significantly increase over time in soft contact lens wearers, with symptomatic wearers experiencing earlier and more pronounced decreases in tear meniscus height and depth, according to a study.

The study prospectively examined 50 soft contact lens wearers, splitting them into 25 symptomatic wearers (SCLW) and 25 asymptomatic wearers (ASCW), along with a control group of 25 healthy individuals who do not wear contact lenses (NCLW). OCT was used to image the lower tear meniscus at multiple intervals: before lens insertion; immediately after; and then 2, 5, and 10 hours post-insertion. Measured parameters included tear meniscus height (TMH), depth (TMD), turbidity, and the PAOP.

Baseline turbidity and PAOP were significantly higher in symptomatic SCL wearers compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between TMH, TMD, turbidity, and PAOP at baseline and 2 hours post-insertion across all groups (P > 0.05). However, symptomatic SCL users showed a significant decrease in TMH and TMD at 5 hours. Turbidity and PAOP in both symptomatic and asymptomatic SCL wearers were significantly higher at 5 and 10 hours compared to non-CL wearers (P < 0.05).

Reference
Dogan L, Arslan GD. The analysis of tear meniscus parameters during daily soft contact lens wear using optical coherence tomography. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024;doi: 10.1007/s00417-024-06606-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39110197.