The Contact Lens and Dry Eye Study

这项K23提案的主要目标是培养Jason J.Nichols，OD MS是一名独立的临床医生兼科学家。为了实现这一目标，建议实施一项为期五年的培训计划，重点是1)获得俄亥俄州立大学验光学院博士学位的视觉科学和2)获得俄亥俄州立大学医学和公共卫生学院公共卫生硕士学位的生物统计学和流行病学方面的指导和正式课程。1995年，国家眼科研究所(NEI)主办的干眼研讨会报告将隐形眼镜相关的干眼确定为干眼综合征的一个主要亚类。然而，从那时起，几乎没有由NEI赞助的临床研究来研究隐形眼镜相关干眼的病因学或流行病学。拟议的培训将为Nichols博士提供必要的以患者为导向的研究技能，以进行隐形眼镜相关干眼的流行病学研究，该研究经过精心设计，以补充和提高在开发期间获得的技能。隐形眼镜相关的干眼可能会导致角膜上皮干燥或增加感染性疾病的发病率，从而严重影响眼睛健康。需要了解隐形眼镜脱水和泪膜蒸发变化之间的关系，因为它们可能是隐形眼镜相关干眼的主要原因。将进行一项横断面/嵌套式病例对照研究，分析将解决被认为与隐形眼镜相关干眼有关的风险因素。在研究的横断面阶段(第一阶段)，我们将描述和阐明戴隐形眼镜期间干眼症状的频率和严重程度之间的差异的功能意义。在研究的嵌套病例对照阶段(第二阶段)，我们将检验这样一个假设，即包括隐形眼镜特征、泪膜变化、眉肌腺疾病和空白模式在内的蒸发因素与隐形眼镜相关干眼的风险增加有关。这项研究的长期目标是为了更好地了解隐形眼镜相关干眼的病因和危险因素，以便在预防方面取得进展。

The primary goal of this K23 proposal is to train the Jason J. Nichols, OD MS is an independent clinician-scientist. To achieve this goal, a five-year training program is proposed which emphasizes mentoring and formal coursework in 1) vision science leading to a PhD from The Ohio State University College of Optometry and in 2) biostatistics and epidemiology leading to an MPH degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health. In 1995, the National Eye Institute (NEI) sponsored dry eye workshop report identified contact lens-related dry eye as a major sub-classification of dry eye syndrome. Yet, there has been little clinical research sponsored by the NEI to study the etiology or epidemiology of contact lens-related dry eyes since that time. The proposed training will provide Dr. Nichols with the necessary patient-oriented research skills to conduct an epidemiologic study of contact lens-related dry eye, which has been carefully designed to complement and enhance those skills obtained during the development period. Contact lens-related dry eye may severely impact ocular health by leading to desiccation of the corneal epithelium or an increased incidence of infectious disease. The relation between contact lens dehydration and evaporative changes in the tear film needs to be understood as they may be the primary cause of contact lens-related dry eye. A cross-sectional/nested case-control study will be conducted and the analyses will address risk factors thought to be associated with contact lens-related dry eye. In the cross-sectional phase of the study (Phase I), we will characterize and elucidate the functional significance of the discrepancy between the frequency and severity of dry eye symptoms during contact lens wear. In the nested case-control phase of the study (Phase II), we will test the hypothesis that evaporative factors including contact lens characteristics, tear film changes, Meibomian gland disease, and blanking patterns are associated with an increased risk for contact lens-related dry eye. The long-term objective of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of the etiology and risk factors for contact lens-related dry eye so that progress can be made toward its prevention.