Interleukin-6 levels in tears of contact lens wearers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of interleukin-6 (IL -6) in basal tears of contact lens wearers (n = 18) and nonlens wearers (n = 25). Samples (5 mu l) were collected with a micocapillary pipette and eva luated using PAGE electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis. Contact lens-wea ring patients had a mean IL-6 level of 43.8 +/- 5.3 pg/5 mu l compared with nondetectable IL-6 levels throughout the noncontact lens-wearing populatio n. IL-6 in several patients removed from contact lens wear for 6 days becam e nondetectable. When these patients were returned to wearing lenses, IL-6 levels increased to their original levels within 24 h. The data presented i ndicate that an ocular medical device may stimulate IL-6 production.