Pooja B. Jamnadas MD, Marie Brenner, MS4, Peter Russo, OD, Shuchi Patel MDLoyola University Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Maywood IL

At our institution

INTRODUCTION

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

•IRB approved, prospective case control study

•27 patients that presented to the Loyola eye clinic were recruited for the study

•Patients were provided appropriate informed consent and made aware of the risks and benefits of participation

•Patient’s RNFL was measured with and without their daily contact lenses in place

•We studied refractive error, RNFL, Q value with and without contact lenses in place

•Subgroup analysis was conducted with chi square analysis analyzing whether a refractive error ≤ -2.0, between -2.5-5.0, and >-5.0 diopters impacted pertinent variables

•15 eyes had astigmatism

•For patients with astigmatism, measurements were recorded in the axis of astigmatism and 90 degrees away

METHODS

Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements are often used to

aid ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and management of

glaucoma. One of the challenges in measuring RNFL is obtaining

good quality scans with accurate measurements. Our study

serves to report the effects of contact lenses wear on RNFL

measurements. Furthermore we sought to determine if the

degree of refractive error impacts RNFL measurements or Q

values and if the measurements in the axis of astigmatism and

90 degrees from the axis of astigmatism differ.

•Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in RNFL or Q value with and without contact

lens wear

• In subgroup analysis with regards to refractive error, the difference in Q value was only statistically

significant in patients with a refractive error between -2.50 and -5.00 diopters of myopia

• In subgroup analysis with regards to refractive error, there was no statistically significant difference

in RNFL measurements with and without contact lenses

•When examining the difference in RNFL measurements with and without contact lenses in the axis of

astigmatism compared to measurements 90 degrees from the axis of astigmatism, there was no

statistically significant difference in measurements

Purpose: The purpose is to determine if statistically significant

differences exist between retinal nerve fiber

layer(RNFL) measurements and quality (measured in Q

value) of optical coherence tomography(OCT) studies in

patients with and without contact lenses. We compared

patients with increasing amounts of refractive error and

patients with astigmatism.

Methods: After obtaining IRB approval and consent, patients in

the Loyola eye clinic had their RNFL measured with and

without contact lenses using the Heidelberg Retina

Tomograph. The patient's refractive error, RNFL, and Q

value were recorded. A paired t test was used

comparing the average RNFL and Q value with and

without contact lenses. A subgroup analysis was done

examining the effect of increasing refractive error on

the RNFL and Q value measurements. For patients with

astigmatism, an unpaired t-test was used to compare

the change in RNFL with and without contacts, both in

the axis of their astigmatism and 90 degrees away from

their axis of astigmatism.

Results: No statistically significant difference is present in RNFL

measurements and OCT quality with or without contact

lens wear overall. Subgroup analysis only found a

statistically significant difference in Q value

measurements in patients between -2.50 and -5.00 of

myopia. Subgroup analysis for increasing refractive

error showed no statistically significant difference in

RNFL measurements. The difference in RNFL

measurements with and without contact lenses in the

axis of astigmatism compared with measurements 90

degrees from the axis of astigmatism was also not

statistically significant.

Conclusions:We conclude that according to our study there is no

statistically significant difference in OCT RNFL

measurements and quality of measurements with and

without contact lenses. The only subgroup that does

show a statistically significant difference are patients

with -2.50 to -5.00 diopters of myopia when measuring

Q value. This subgroup also had the largest number of

patients. Therefore we need to extend our study to

include more patients with higher refractive errors to

see if a larger n will allow for results to reach statistical

significance.

Financial Disclosures: None

Acknowledgements:

The Richard A. Perritt Charitable Foundation

ABSTRACT RESULTS

CORRELATION OF RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER MEASUREMENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CONTACT LENSES MEASURED IN PATIENTS

WITH ASTIGMATISM

Comparison of difference in RNFL measurements with and without

contact lenses in axis of astigmatism compared to 90 degrees from axis

of astigmatism

Contact Lenses

No Contact Lenses

Comparison of Q value with and without contact lenses

Comparison of RNFL with and without contact lenses