Impact of in vitro lens deposition and removal on bacterial adhesion to orthokeratology contact lenses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of several contact lens (CL) care solutions on the removal of proteins and lipids, and how deposit removal impacts bacterial adhesion and solution disinfection.
Methods: Lysozyme and lipid deposition on three ortho-k (rigid) and two soft CL materials were evaluated using an ELISA kit and gas chromatography respectively. Bacterial adhesion to a fluorosilicone acrylate material using Pseudomonas aeruginosa with various compositions of artificial tear solutions (ATS), including with denatured proteins, was also investigated. The impact of deposition of the different formulations of ATS on biofilm formation was explored using cover slips. Finally, the lysozyme and lipid cleaning efficacy and disinfection efficacy against P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus of four different contact lens care solutions were studied using qualitative analysis.
Results: While maximum lysozyme deposition was observed with the fluorosilicone acrylate material (327.25 ± 54.25 µg/lens), the highest amount of lipid deposition was recorded with a fluoro-siloxanyl styrene material (134.71 ± 19.87 µg/lens). Adhesion of P. aeruginosa to fluorosilicone acrylate lenses and biofilm formation on cover slips were significantly greater with the addition of denatured proteins and lipids. Of the four contact lens care solutions investigated, the solution based on povidone-iodine removed both denatured lysozyme and lipid deposits and could effectively disinfect against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus when contaminated with denatured proteins and lipids. In contrast, the peroxide-based solution was able to inhibit P. aeruginosa growth only, while the two multipurpose solutions were unable to disinfect lenses contaminated with denatured proteins and lipids.
Conclusion: Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation is influenced by components within artificial tear solutions depositing on lenses, including denatured proteins and lipids, which also affects disinfection. The ability of different solutions to remove these deposits should be considered when selecting systems to clean and disinfect ortho-k lenses.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: KY, KS, RH, YM are all employees of OPHTECS Corporation, Japan. KY is named on a patent on a contact lens solution studied in this manuscript. LJ has received research funds from Alcon, Azura Ophthalmics, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Essilor, Hoya, iMedPharma, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Menicon, Novartis, Ophtecs, Ote Pharma, Santen, SightGlass, SightSage, Topcon, Visioneering Tech Inc, Lectureship Honoraria from Alcon, CooperVision and J&J Vision and is on the advisory board of Alcon, CooperVision, J&J Vision, Novartis, Ophtecs and Visioneering Tech Inc. AH has received lectureship honoraria from J&J Vision and served as a consultant for Labtician Thea.
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