Effect of rigid gas permeable contact lens wetting solutions on the rabbit corneal epithelium

• Published in: Optometry and vision science Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 189 - 197
• Main Authors: BEGLEY, C. G, WAGGONER, P. J, HAFNER, G. S, TOKARSKI, T, MEETZ, R. E, WHEELER, W. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.03.1991
• Subjects: Animals; Benzalkonium Compounds - toxicity; Biguanides - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorhexidine - analogs & derivatives; Chlorhexidine - toxicity; Contact Lenses; Cornea - drug effects; Cornea - ultrastructure; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Epithelium - drug effects; Epithelium - ultrastructure; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Ophthalmic Solutions - toxicity; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical - toxicity; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Cornea; Hard lens; Contact lens; Toxicity; Conservation; Rabbit; Wetting liquid; Instrumentation therapy; Permeability; Lagomorpha; Epithelium; Electron microscopy; Pathology; Vertebrata; Eye disease; Mammalia; Treatment; Animal; Solution
• ISSN: 1040-5488; 1538-9235
• DOI: 10.1097/00006324-199103000-00006

This investigation was designed to compare the effects of three rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens solutions on the rabbit corneal epithelium. Boston Advance Conditioning Solution, Boston Conditioning Solution, and Allergan Wet-N-Soak, which are preserved with 0.0015% polyaminopropyl biguanide, 0.006% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 0.003% benzalkonium chloride, respectively, were evaluated by scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results show that Boston Advance Conditioning Solution is significantly more toxic to the corneal epithelium than either Boston Conditioning Solution or Allergan Wet-N-Soak Plus. This is presumably due to the presence and concentration of the preservative, 0.0015% polyaminopropyl biguanide. Although this study was conducted using rabbits, the results raise clinical concerns for human RGP contact lens wearers.