The Contact Lens and Dry Eye Study

这个K23提案的主要目标是培训Jason J. Nichols，OD MS是一名独立的临床科学家。为了实现这一目标，提出了一个为期五年的培训计划，该计划强调以下方面的指导和正式课程：1）视觉科学，获得俄亥俄州验光学院的博士学位; 2）生物统计学和流行病学，获得俄亥俄州州立大学医学和公共卫生学院的MPH学位。1995年，国家眼科研究所（NEI）主办的干眼症研讨会报告将隐形眼镜相关的干眼症确定为干眼症的主要子分类。然而，从那时起，NEI很少赞助临床研究来研究隐形眼镜相关干眼症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症的流行病学研究，该研究经过精心设计，以补充和增强开发期间获得的技能。隐形眼镜相关的干眼症可能通过导致角膜上皮干燥或感染性疾病发病率增加而严重影响眼部健康。需要了解接触透镜脱水和泪膜蒸发变化之间的关系，因为它们可能是接触镜片相关干眼的主要原因。将进行一项横断面/巢式病例对照研究，分析将涉及被认为与角膜接触镜相关干眼相关的风险因素。在研究的横断面阶段（I期），我们将描述并阐明隐形透镜配戴期间干眼症症状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（II期），我们将检验蒸发因素（包括角膜接触镜透镜特征、泪膜变化、睑板腺疾病和空白模式）与角膜接触镜相关干眼风险增加相关的假设。这项研究的长期目标是有助于更好地了解角膜接触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.