No abstract

Prolonged daily face mask wearing over several months might affect health of the ocular surface and is reported to be associated with complaints of discomfort and dry-eye-like symptoms. We studied the ocular surface clinical parameters, tear soluble factors and immune cell proportions in ophthalmologists practicing within similar environmental conditions (n = 17) at two time points: pre-face-mask period (Pre-FM; end of 2019) and post-face-mask-wearing period (Post-FM; during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic), with continuous (~8 h/day) mask wear. A significant increase in ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores without changes in tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test 1 (ST1) and objective scatter index (OSI) was observed Post-FM. Tear soluble factors (increased—IL-1β, IL-33, IFNβ, NGF, BDNF, LIF and TSLP; decreased—IL-12, IL-13, HGF and VEGF-A) and mucins (MUC5AC) were significantly altered Post-FM. Ex vivo, human donor and corneoscleral explant cultures under elevated CO2 stress revealed that the molecular profile, particularly mucin expression, was similar to the Post-FM tear molecular profile, suggesting hypercapnia is a potential contributor to ocular surface discomfort. Among the immune cell subsets determined from ocular surface wash samples, significantly higher proportions of leukocytes and natural killer T cells were observed in Post-FM compared to Pre-FM. Therefore, it is important to note that the clinical parameters, tear film quality, tear molecular factors and immune cells profile observed in prolonged mask-wear-associated ocular surface discomfort were distinct from dry eye disease or other common ocular surface conditions. These observations are important for differential diagnosis as well as selection of appropriate ocular surface treatment in such subjects.

No abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Inflammation has been associated with dry eye and anti-inflammatory drugs are now being targeted as the alternate therapeutic approach for dry eye condition. In this study, we have explored the anti-inflammatory and autophagy modulating effect of chloroquine (CQ) in human corneal epithelial and human corneal fibroblasts cells exposed to desiccation stress, (an in-vitro model for DED). Gene and protein expression profiling of inflammatory and autophagy related molecular factors were analyzed in HCE-T and primary HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress with and without CQ treatment. HCE-T and HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress exhibited increased levels of activated p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-9, and IL-6. Further, treatment with CQ decreased the levels of active p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, and MMP-9 in cells underdesiccation stress. Increased levels of LC3B and LAMP1 markers in HCE-T cells exposed to desiccation stress suggest activation of autophagy and the addition of CQ did not alter these levels. Changes in the phosphorylation levels of MAPKinase and mTOR pathway proteins were found in HCE-T cells under desiccation stress with or without CQ treatment. Taken together, the data suggests that HCE-T cells under desiccation stress showed NFκB mediated inflammation, which was rescued through the anti-inflammatory effect of CQ without altering the autophagy flux. Therefore, CQ may be used as an alternate therapeutic management for dry eye condition.