Comparison of Surface Roughness and Bacterial Adhesion between Cosmetic Contact Lenses and Conventional Contact Lenses

PURPOSE: To determine the surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional contact lenses (CLs) and their susceptibility to bacterial adhesion. METHODS: Concave surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional hydrogel (Etafilcon A) CLs was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In particular, the surface of the color tinted area of cosmetic CLs was measured. CLs were immersed into a bacterial solution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 1, 12, or 24 hours and culture of P. aeruginosa that had adhered to the CLs was performed. RESULTS: Concave surface roughness of cosmetic CLs significantly increased compared with conventional CLs by AFM (p 0.9, p < 0.05). By SEM, P. aeruginosa had adhered to the color-tinted area more than to the non-color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs. CONCLUSIONS: Surface of cosmetic CLs was significantly rougher and initial adhesion of bacteria was higher to cosmetic CLs than to conventional CLs. In particular, an increased number of bacteria was found to be adhered to the color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs. Initial bacterial adhesion is important because it is the first stage of bacterial attachment process to any surface. After then, the adherent bacteria can progress to form a biofilm. Increased surface roughness of CLs contributes to opportunities for the CL to come into contact with bacteria, and thus, initial bacterial adhesion increases. In this study, it is clear that cosmetic CLs are more vulnerable to bacterial adhesion. To avoid serious complications, such as bacterial keratitis, the manufacturing process for smoothing and treating the surface in order to inhibit bacterial adhesion should be developed in the future.

Comparison of Surface Roughness and Bacterial Adhesion between Cosmetic Contact Lenses and Conventional Contact Lenses

PURPOSE: To determine the surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional contact lenses (CLs) and their susceptibility to bacterial adhesion. METHODS: Concave surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional hydrogel (Etafilcon A) CLs was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In particular, the surface of the color tinted area of cosmetic CLs was measured. CLs were immersed into a bacterial solution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 1, 12, or 24 hours and culture of P. aeruginosa that had adhered to the CLs was performed. RESULTS: Concave surface roughness of cosmetic CLs significantly increased compared with conventional CLs by AFM (p 0.9, p < 0.05). By SEM, P. aeruginosa had adhered to the color-tinted area more than to the non-color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs. CONCLUSIONS: Surface of cosmetic CLs was significantly rougher and initial adhesion of bacteria was higher to cosmetic CLs than to conventional CLs. In particular, an increased number of bacteria was found to be adhered to the color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs. Initial bacterial adhesion is important because it is the first stage of bacterial attachment process to any surface. After then, the adherent bacteria can progress to form a biofilm. Increased surface roughness of CLs contributes to opportunities for the CL to come into contact with bacteria, and thus, initial bacterial adhesion increases. In this study, it is clear that cosmetic CLs are more vulnerable to bacterial adhesion. To avoid serious complications, such as bacterial keratitis, the manufacturing process for smoothing and treating the surface in order to inhibit bacterial adhesion should be developed in the future.

Transmission Electron Microscopic Findings of Lacrimal Gland Acinar Cells Induced by In Vivo Dry Eye

PURPOSE: To determine the change in lacrimal gland (LG) acinar cells induced by in vivo dry eye (DE). METHODS: Six to 8-week-old (C57BL/6) mice were placed in a controlled environment chamber at <20% humidity for 2 weeks, and a control group was bred in a normal environment. After these 2 weeks of dry eye (DE) induction, the mice were sacrificed and their LGs were collected. Lacrimal gland acinar cell organelle structures were observed with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). TEM images were analyzed using the Image J program. RESULTS: The size of the LGs of DE-induced mice decreased compared to those of normal mice. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) staining was negative in DE-induced LGs. Under the TEM, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen was dilated and the lumen density increased in DE-induced mice. Additionally, cell organelles were surrounded by elongated ER lumens. The mitochondrial structure was destroyed and the number of vacuoles increased in the LGs of DE-induced mice. CONCLUSIONS: Structural changes of the LG developed due to DE induction. This suggests that the detailed mechanisms of these changes were ER stress and autophagy. However, there were no definite signs of apoptosis in the acinar cells of the DE-induced LGs. These findings are regarded as an important clue of the pathogenesis of non-Sjogren-type dry eye.