BLOG: What the contact lens does to the tear film and how it impacts successful wear 
Professor Lyndon Jones and Professor Philip Morgan

No matter how sophisticated the contact lens material or design, it is essentially a man-made object around 10 times thicker than the natural tear film with very different structural and chemical composition to the tears. 

A lecture at the forthcoming BCLA Conference will examine how the lens and the tear film interact and will uncover the major issues that exist in trying to get the tear film to ‘accept’ the lens and for them to work in harmony with each other. 

Professor Lyndon Jones (pictured), research chair at the University of Waterloo, and Professor Philip Morgan, head of optometry at the University of Manchester will consider several fundamental issues at the session on Saturday, June 10.

Professor Jones said: “Firstly, the lens splits the tear film into two sections, forming the pre-lens tear film (PLTF) and the post-lens tear film, both of which are much thinner than the tear film without the lens. 

“Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the lens disrupts the critical interaction between the mucin layer and the under-surface of the lid and the outer portions of the tear film. 

“These alterations in tear film structure and physiology have implications for the patients’ satisfaction with vision and comfort, as both significantly destabilise the tear film. 

“Any additional stresses - like challenging environments, altered blink rates, or pre-existing conditions such as meibomian gland dysfunction - may further decrease the quality and stability of the PLTF.” 

So, how can these fundamental issues be overcome to increase the successful wear of lenses? Traditionally, it has been thought that the detection of tear-film related lipids or proteins in or on a contact lens equates to undesirable lens properties. 

However, there is a growing body of evidence that the integration of certain lipids and proteins (in their natural state) into the lens material may actually lead to enhanced lens performance and improved patient outcomes.  

This presentation will review the challenges that exist for contact lens wear to be successful, consider the desirable attributes that a lens should have to better support the PLTF and highlight areas for future research on this evolving concept of tear film interaction and integration. 

The conference will see the BCLA mark its 40th anniversary by looking to the future of contact lenses as well as celebrating the industry’s proud past.

Hundreds of eye care professionals are expected to attend the event, which will include world-renowned guest speakers, hands-on workshops and a 40th Anniversary awards dinner.

The conference, due to be held at the ACC in Liverpool on June 9th-11th, is one of the biggest of its kind within the contact lens industry and offers delegates the chance to keep up to date with the latest research, trends and best practice.

For more information on the Clinical Conference and exhibition and to see the full programme of lectures and workshops , click here.