Patient-Dependent and Material-Dependent Factors in Contact Lens Deposition Processes

The interaction of polymers with the tears is conveniently studied by observing the nature of the contact lens surface contamination produced during wear. In developing analytical techniques capable of distinguishing between anterior and posterior surface deposition and between the different chemical species involved, the potential is established to use the lens as a probe for differences in patient-to-patient and eye-to-eye tear chemistry. In the broader context, the eye is an ideal body site to study the interactions between a complex biochemical system and an implantation material, both because of the ease of access and the fact that materials can be worn for a set period of time under known conditions before removal for analysis.