Correlation Study of Corneal Nerve Changes and Dry Eye in Contact Lens Wearers

Correlation Study of Corneal Nerve Changes and Dry Eye in Contact Lens Wearers

This study aims to analyze the changes of corneal nerve morphology and function in contact lens-related dry eye(CLADE) patients and further discuss the role of corneal nerve in the genesis and development of CLADE.

33 daily disposable soft contact lens wearers with dry eye disease(DED), 33 DED without contact lens wear and 33 normal control subjects will be involved in study. One experienced ophthalmologist will evaluate the DED symptoms and signs, which include ocular surface disease index(OSDI), tear film breakup time(TBUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test, corneal fluorescein staining, lissamine green staining and meibomian gland dropout rate. After evaluating, corneal sensitivity are measured using a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. Corneal nerve morphology will be assessed in the right eye using in vivo confocal microscopy(IVCM). Fifteen to twenty minutes after IVCM, 20μL of basal tears will be collected from the inferior meniscus of each participant to test tear neuropeptides. Then investigators analyse the correlation of corneal nerve changes and DED symptoms and signs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18years to 40 years；
• Male or female DED patients based on Chinese Dry Eye Diagnosis Standard (2020) with or without contact lens wear；
• Provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of any of the following conditions: active ocular infection, ocular inflammation, active ocular allergy, ocular surgical history, laser treatment in the last 3 months, Meibomian function (MGD) over grade 2 (the grade is according to the report of the International Workshop on MGD in 2011), severe blepharitis or obvious inflammation of the eyelid margin, which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the interpretation of the study results
• Pregnant and lactating women, or those planning a pregnancy over the course of the study
• Uncontrolled systemic disease
• Suffer from diseases that may affect corneal nerves, such as keratoconus, trigeminal neuralgia, allergic conjunctivitis, etc.