The Effect of Contact Lens Wear on the Excitability of Blink Reflex Circuit: A Prospective Controlled Study

Abstract

This study determined whether the use of contact lenses constitutes a model for adaptive alterations. We included 8 volunteers using contact lenses and 11 volunteers as control group. The blink reflex (BR) recovery was measured using the paired-pulse technique. No differences were observed between groups in initial R2 recovery at 200, 400, 800 and 1000 ms intervals. The 600 ms measurements were lower in the contact lens group (P = 0.037). There was a decrease at 600 ms in the 1st week, which reached the value of the control group in the 1st month (P = 0.049). It was concluded that rigid gas-permeable contact lens use does not cause an increase in the excitability of the interneurons that affect the BR cycle.

Keywords:

• Contact lens wear
• blink reflex
• adaptive symptom