The relationship between the eyelid status and contact lens discomfort.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between eyelid alterations and the presence of contact lens discomfort (CLD) in soft contact lens (CL) wearers.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-seven CL wearers were included in this cross-sectional study. CLD symptoms were quantified by the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ)-8. Participants were also classified considering the CLD effect on wearing time. Non-invasive tear break-up time was measured with the EasyTear® VIEW + Tearscope, tear film lipid layer thickness was assessed with the LipiView II interferometer, and lid margin parameters, Meibomian gland morphology and function, and lid wiper epitheliopathy were evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy (SL-D7, Topcon corp.). Correlations between symptoms and signs were analysed, and multivariable regression models were performed.

RESULTS

Lid margin thickness (p = 0.07), Meibomian gland secretion quality (p = 0.02) and expressibility (p = 0.09) showed a significant (p ≤ 0.1) simple association with the CLD effect classification, but only lid margin thickness reached statistical significance in the multivariable regression model [odds ratio (95 % confidence interval): 0.52 (0.30/0.87); p = 0.015]. No significant (p ≤ 0.05) simple linear association was found between the CLDEQ-8 and any of the ocular parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of mild CLD symptoms in soft CL wearers was not consistently associated with any eyelid alteration, except for lid margin thickness. Future studies assessing the impact of lid margin thickness on CLD would be valuable.