The effect of reading on blinking rate among soft contact lens wearers / Aresya Najmee and Antonia Joseph

Blinking plays an important role in preservation of the corneal integrity by a proper formation of pre-corneal tear film. In contact lenses, blinking helps to keep the normal role of cornea, optical quality and hydration of contact lens surface through the interaction of tears between contact lens and cornea. This study aims to analyze the blinking rate before and while reading among soft contact lens wearers and the correlation between contact lens demographic data with dry eye symptoms before and after reading. Method: A sample of 18 subjects (17 females and one male, aged between 20-25 years) were recruited in this study. All subjects had a good ocular health and some reported mild dry eye symptoms (CLEDQ-8 score < 25). Face video recordings were captured while the subjects were looking at mark ‘X’ for 3 minutes at 3 meters and during reading at primary gaze position for 20 minutes at 40 cm. Texts were presented in newspaper cuttings that were compiled as a book with size N8 that consisted of 24 pages. Video analysis were conducted after each session to assess blink rate. Results: The mean blinking rate before reading was 25.70 9.54 blink/min. The blink rate while reading was 20.40 ± 9.63/min. There was no significant difference in blinking rate for 20 minutes of reading and 3 minutes before reading. There was also a poor correlation between contact lens demographic and dry eye symptoms before and while reading. Conclusion: Reading and the blinking rate were affected by soft contact lens wear. Reading newspaper cuttings with soft contact lens wear at primary gaze position influenced blinking; which interfere with the tear film dynamics. There was also a poor correlation between contact lens demographic and dry eye symptoms before and while reading. As this study recruited subjects that did not have moderate to severe dry eye, thus, it is possible to obtain these findings.