Association Between Ocular Surface Temperature and Tear Film Stability in Soft Contact Lens Wearers.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the changes in the ocular surface temperature (OST) and tear film stability over soft contact lenses (SCLs).

Methods: We enrolled 20 eyes of 20 normal SCL wearers (20 men; 24.4 ± 4.1 years). We used four different daily disposable SCLs: one silicone hydrogel lens (delefilcon A) and three hydrogel lenses (etafilcon A with polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP], etafilcon A, and polymacon). OST was measured every second during 10 seconds without blinking. We defined the difference in the OST from 0 to 10 seconds as ΔOST. To evaluate tear film stability, we measured noninvasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) and tear interference patterns on the contact lenses (TIPCL) using tear film interferometry. The parameters were measured before and 15 minutes after wearing each SCL.

Results: ΔOST was correlated significantly with NIBUT without (r = 0.411, P < 0.01) and with SCL (r = 0.642, P < 0.01). TIPCL grade was correlated significantly with ΔOST over SCLs (r = -0.636, P < 0.01). ΔOST was significantly smaller with silicone hydrogel delefilcon A than hydrogel etafilcon A and polymacon lenses (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Delefilcon A and etafilcon A with PVP lenses had significantly smaller NIBUT than etafilcon A (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). TIPCL grade of delefilcon A lens was significantly smaller than those of etafilcon A and polymacon (P < 0.01 for both comparisons).

Conclusions: The changes in OST over SCLs are related to tear film stability. Measurements of OST can be used to evaluate tear film stability for SCL wearers.