Secretory IgA epitopes in basal tears of extended-wear soft contact lens wearers and in non-lens wearers

Purpose: To determine secretory IgA epitopes in tears of extended-wear soft contact lens wearers and non-wearing controls. Methods: We developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to determi ne the tear concentrations of two epitopes of secretory IgA, the IgA alpha- chain and the secretory component These epitopes were measured in basal tea rs of 20 individuals in 6 nights of extended wear of etafilcon A soft conta ct lenses and in 19 non-lens-wearing individuals. Results: Levels of IgA apha-chain immunoreactivity were significantly decre ased in the lens-wearing group compared to non-lens wearers. However; the l evel of secretory component immunoreactivity was not significantly differen t between groups, IgA alpha-chain and secretory component immunoreactvity w ere highly correlated, however; some samples showed a marked variation betw een these two values. Conclusion: Tear concentrations of sIgA epitopes are significantly reduced in extended-wear contact lens wearers, and may contribute to the increased susceptibility to ocular infection seen in this group.Purpose: To determine secretory IgA epitopes in tears of extended-wear soft contact lens wearers and non-wearing controls. Methods: We developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to determi ne the tear concentrations of two epitopes of secretory IgA, the IgA alpha- chain and the secretory component These epitopes were measured in basal tea rs of 20 individuals in 6 nights of extended wear of etafilcon A soft conta ct lenses and in 19 non-lens-wearing individuals. Results: Levels of IgA apha-chain immunoreactivity were significantly decre ased in the lens-wearing group compared to non-lens wearers. However; the l evel of secretory component immunoreactivity was not significantly differen t between groups, IgA alpha-chain and secretory component immunoreactivity were highly correlated, however; some samples showed a marked variation bet ween these two values. Conclusion: Tear concentrations of sIgA epitopes are significantly reduced in extended-wear contact lens wearers, and may contribute to the increased susceptibility to ocular infection seen in this group.