The Contact Lens and Dry Eye Study

这个K23提案的主要目标是培养詹森·j·尼科尔斯，OD MS是一个独立的临床科学家。为了实现这一目标，我们提出了一个为期五年的培训计划，强调在视觉科学方面的指导和正式课程，让学生获得俄亥俄州立大学视光学院的博士学位，在生物统计学和流行病学方面获得俄亥俄州立大学医学和公共卫生学院的公共卫生硕士学位。1995年，美国国家眼科研究所（NEI）发起的干眼研讨会报告将隐形眼镜相关性干眼确定为干眼综合征的一个主要子类。然而，从那时起，由NEI赞助的关于隐形眼镜相关干眼的病因学或流行病学的临床研究就很少了。拟议的培训将为Nichols博士提供必要的面向患者的研究技能，以便进行与隐形眼镜有关的干眼症的流行病学研究，该研究经过精心设计，以补充和加强在发展期间获得的技能。隐形眼镜相关性干眼症可导致角膜上皮干燥或增加感染性疾病的发生率，从而严重影响眼部健康。隐形眼镜脱水与泪膜蒸发变化之间的关系需要了解，因为它们可能是隐形眼镜相关性干眼症的主要原因。将进行横断面/巢式病例对照研究，分析被认为与隐形眼镜相关性干眼症相关的风险因素。在研究的横截面阶段（第一阶段），我们将描述和阐明隐形眼镜佩戴期间干眼症状的频率和严重程度之间差异的功能意义。在研究的巢式病例对照阶段（第二阶段），我们将检验蒸发因素（包括隐形眼镜特征、泪膜变化、睑板腺疾病和空白模式）与隐形眼镜相关性干眼症风险增加相关的假设。本研究的长期目标是有助于更好地了解与隐形眼镜有关的干眼症的病因和危险因素，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.