Scleral lens wear: Measuring inflammation in the fluid reservoir. Issue 6 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, Maria K; Lema, Carolina; Redfern, Rachel
• Is Part Of: Contact lens & anterior eye. Volume 43:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 577
• Page End: 584
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: MMP-10 -- Fluid reservoir -- MMP-9 -- Scleral lenses; Anterior segment (Eye) -- Periodicals; Contact lenses -- Periodicals; Segment antérieur (Œil) -- Périodiques; Lentilles de contact -- Périodiques; 617.752305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2020.02.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-0484

Abstract

Highlights: Fifteen subjects wore SL for 4 days, inflammatory mediators were quantified in the fluid reservoir and basal tears. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and -10 were elevated in the fluid reservoir compared to the basal tear samples. Interleukin-4 and -8 were elevated in the fluid reservoir but not significantly significantly. MMP-7 remained unaltered. No significant effects on the ocular surface(cornea/conjunctiva staining) were observed after SL wear for up to 4 days. Abstract: Purpose: To measure inflammatory mediators in the scleral lens fluid reservoir (FR) in healthy eyes and to compare them to basal tear samples after 8-hs (8h) and 4-days (4d) of scleral lens (SL) wear. Methods: Fifteen normal, habitual soft contact lens wearers were fitted with 14.8- or 15.4-mm SLs (Zenlens, Alden Optical, USA). Basal ocular surface tears and FR samples were collected after 8h and 4d of daily SL wear. Levels of interleukin (IL) -4 and -8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, -9, and -10, and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs) 1–4 were measured in all samples using Luminex assays. Visual acuity, corneal and conjunctival staining, and comfort assessments were completed at the baseline, 8h and 4d time points. Results: MMP-9 and MMP-10 were greater in FR than basal ocular surface tears. After 8h of SL wear, the median concentration of MMP-9 in the FR and basal tears were 62.7 and 15.2 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.047). Likewise, MMP-10 was significantly greater in FR compared to basal tears, after 8h (25.8 ng/mL vs 2.8 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and 4d (2.1 ng/mL vs17.2 ng/mL, p = 0.047). IL-4 and IL-8 levels were greater in FR but not significantly at 8h (2.2 vs 3.1 ng/mL; and 0.1 vs 0.4 ng/mL, respectively) or 4d (0.9 vs 3.5 ng/mL; 0.0 vs 0.2 ng/mL). MMP-7 was not affected by SL wear after 8h (46.0 basal vs 54.4 ng/mL FR) or 4d (34.2 vs 87.5 ng/mL). Visual acuity, corneal and conjunctival staining did not change; comfort was reduced in SL compared to soft contact lens wear. Conclusions: This is the first study to compare the FR with the basal ocular surface tears. MMP-9 and MMP-10 were elevated in the FR after several hours of SL wear, suggesting potential clinical implications of SL wear and deserves further investigation.