The impact of soft contact lenses on the corneal neuromediators and optical quality in high myopia.

Background: To investigate the impact of long-term soft contact lenses (SCLs) wear on corneal neuromediators within stromal lenticules and its effect on optical quality.

Methods: This study enrolled 140 eyes from 70 patients with high myopia who underwent small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Participants were divided into three groups according to the duration of SCLs wear: > 10 years group, ≤ 10 years group, and a non-wearing group (NW). Corneal higher-order aberrations and densitometry were assessed using a Pentacam system. Levels of Neuromediators in stromal lenticules were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence analysis. The relationships among SCLs wear duration, neuromediator levels, and optical quality parameters were evaluated through multiple comparative analyses.

Results: The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), substance P (SP), and mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) were significantly elevated in SCLs wearers. In comparison to the NW group, corneal densitometry values within the 0-6 mm zone were obviously higher in both the ≤ 10 years and > 10 years groups. The total higher-order aberrations and horizontal coma were observed to be increased in the > 10 years group. Significant correlations were found between NGF levels and corneal densitometry values in the anterior layer at the 0-2  mm and 2-6  mm zones in the > 10 years group, as well as between insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) levels and corneal densitometry values in the the central layer's 0-2  mm zone in the NW group.

Conclusions: The prolonged wear of SCLs in individuals with high myopia may result in an increase in the levels of corneal stromal neuromediators and a deterioration in corneal optical quality. Notably, neuromediators are significantly associated with corneal optical quality.