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Proteomic analysis of tear fluid: Comparative short-term effects of scleral lenses and rigid corneal lenses wear in ametropic healthy adults.

Zhe Zhang,Li Zeng,Qihua Le,Yanze Yu,Jiaqi Zhou,Feng Xue,Xingtao Zhou,Jiaxu Hong,Zhi Chen

Published 2025 in Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of scleral lenses (SLs) on the ocular surface of healthy individuals and explore potential molecular changes in the tear fluid reservoir associated with this form of contact lens. METHODS Forty-one healthy Chinese subjects were enrolled in the prospective study and assigned to wear SLs or rigid corneal lenses (RCL), and their ocular surface was evaluated at various time points over one month period. Hyperemia, tear film stability, and molecular changes in tear fluid were assessed. Tandem mass tagging proteomics analysis was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in tears after wearing different lenses. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences observed in in the hyperemia index of the nasal and temporal ciliary vessel areas, as well as the nasal and temporal conjunctival vessel areas between groups. The difference in tear film stability between the two groups was not statistically significant. However, proteomic analysis of tear samples revealed 397 differentially expressed proteins in the SLs group, including pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukins. Pathway analysis identified upregulation of inflammation-related pathways. CONCLUSIONS SLs wear does not significantly impact hyperemia and tear film stability compared to RCL. Nevertheless, at the molecular level, there is evidence showing an underlying inflammatory response. These findings require continued research to elucidate the clinical implications of these molecular changes and to guide SLs fitting.

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