Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
Quantitative and conformational characterization of lysozyme deposited on balafilcon and etafilcon contact lens
Michelle Senchyna1, Lyndon Jones, Derek Louie
1Centre for Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. msenchyn@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca
Purpose:
To determine whether differences in lysozyme deposition and/or activity exist on worn etafilcon and balafilcon contact lenses following care with a polyquaternium-based system (PQ) or a polyhexanide-based system (PHMB).
Methods:
Following acid-based deposit extraction, lysozyme concentration was determined via Western blotting and lysozyme activity was determined by a micrococcyl assay.
Results:
Lysozyme deposition on etafilcon lenses was greater following disinfection with the PHMB-based system (1551 +/- 371 micro g/lens vs 935 +/- 271 micro g/lens; p < 0.001). Deposition on balafilcon lenses was not influenced by the care regimen (10 +/- 3.5 micro g/lens vs 10 +/- 5 micro g/lens; p = 0.89). For both materials, the percentage of denatured lysozyme was greater when they were exposed to the PHMB-based system (28 vs 21%; p = 0.05 (etafilcon) and 57 vs 40%; p = 0.04 (balafilcon)).
Conclusions:
The quantity and conformation of lysozyme deposited on hydrogel contact lens materials is significantly influenced by both lens material and care regimen.
