Ocular thermography could improve evaluation of contact lens discomfort

Ocular thermography shows promise as a noninvasive and objective method to assess contact lens-induced discomfort and dryness, according to a study.

In the study 40 habitual contact lens wearers were split into 2 groups: those experiencing symptoms of dryness and discomfort and those without symptoms. Clinical tests were performed once with contact lenses in place and once after a 2-week lens break. Researchers measured the cooling rate of the eye’s surface during natural blinking and sustained eye-opening.

The results found that the symptomatic group reported significantly higher dry eye symptoms, both while wearing lenses and after the washout period. In addition, the cooling rate of the cornea was higher in symptomatic wearers. Tear breakup time and the corneal cooling rate were identified as strong predictors of dry eye symptoms, with significant correlations found in the symptomatic group.

The study concludes that ocular thermography, when combined with tear breakup time, could become a powerful tool for diagnosing contact lens-induced dry eye.

Reference
Moghadas M, Nosch DS, Käser E, et al. Ocular thermography and clinical measurements in symptomatic and asymptomatic soft contact lens wearers. Optom Vis Sci. 2024;doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000002177. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39259709.