Evidence of lipid degradation during overnight contact lens wear: gas chromatography mass spectrometry as the diagnostic tool

Amandeep Panaser, Brian J. Tighe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose. We investigated structural differences in the fatty acid profiles of lipids extracted from ex vivo contact lenses by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). Two lens materials (balafilcon A or lotrafilcon A) were worn on a daily or continuous wear schedule for 30 and 7 days. Methods. Lipids from subject-worn lenses were extracted using 1:1 chloroform: methanol and transmethylated using 5% sulfuric acid in methanol. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were collected using hexane and water, and analyzed by GCMS (Varian 3800 GC, Saturn 2000 MS). Results. The gas chromatograms of lens extracts that were worn on a continuous wear schedule showed two predominant peaks, C16:0 and C18:0, both of which are saturated fatty acids. This was the case for balafilcon A and lotrafilcon A lenses. However, the gas chromatograms of lens extracts that were worn on a daily wear schedule showed saturated (C16:0, C18:0) and unsaturated (C16:1 and C18:1) fatty acids. Conclusions. Unsaturated fatty acids are degraded during sleep in contact lenses. Degradation occurred independently of lens material or subject-to-subject variability in lipid deposition. The consequences of lipid degradation are the production of oxidative products, which may be linked to contact lens discomfort.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1797-1804
Number of pages8
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume55
Issue number3
Early online date25 Feb 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Mar 2014

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc

Funding: EPSRC for a research studentship

Keywords

  • lipid degradation
  • contact lens discomfort
  • overnight contact lens wear

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