Developments of Frictional Coefficient Measuring Unit on Human Ocular Surface and Computational Program to Create Empirical Formula

• Project/Area Number: 18K16959
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Sakane Yuri 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (00601478)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 眼科学 / 眼表面摩擦 / 臨床研究 / ドライアイ / 眼表面疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanical friction between the upper eye lid and cornea during blinking causes various ocular surface diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the lubricity of the ocular surface. To accomplish this, we developed an in vivo human ocular surface friction measuring system, and also developed a computational program using a algorithm for the empirical formulas to determine the lubricity. We also measured the frictional coefficient of the surface of the contact lenses with this device to invetigate the effect of the fricrion on the contact lens discomfort (CLD). The frictional coefficient of contact lenses after 2 weeks of wear increased significantly.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

眼表面の摩擦状態を評価できる方法は現在のところない。今回開発した装置は低侵襲で眼表面の摩擦係数を測定することが可能であり、作成した解析プログラムで眼表面の潤滑状態を評価できた。まだデータの集積や、より安定して測定できるよう測定機の改良が必要であるが、眼表面の摩擦状態を明らかにし、どういうメカニズムで眼表面にストレスを与えて疾患を引き起こしているのか、どういう要因が疾患のリスクになり得るのか解明する一つのツールとなり得る。

Research Products

• [Presentation] 装用状態でのコンタクトレンズ表面摩擦係数測定の試み (2019)
  • Author(s): 坂根 由梨、白石 敦、山口 昌彦、岡本 伸吾、片岡 亮一郎、李 在勲、大橋 裕一
  • Organizer: 角膜カンファランス
• [Presentation] Frictional coefficient of soft contact lenses on ocular surface measured with ocular surface tribometer (2019)
  • Author(s): 立花 亮介、坂根 由梨、白石 敦、山口 昌彦、岡本 伸吾、片岡 亮一郎、李 在勲、大橋 裕一
  • Organizer: The association for research in vision and ophthalmology
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Newly-developed Ocular Surface Tribometer can measure frictional coefficient of human ocular surface in vivo (2019)
  • Author(s): 山口 昌彦、坂根 由梨、白石 敦、岡本 伸吾、片岡 亮一郎、李 在勲、大橋 裕一
  • Organizer: The association for research in vision and ophthalmology
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Ocular surface tribometer開発の試み (2018)
  • Author(s): 坂根 由梨
  • Organizer: 第122回日本眼科学会総会
• [Presentation] Development of Ocular Surface Tribometer (2018)
  • Author(s): 坂根 由梨、山口 昌彦、白石 敦
  • Organizer: Asia dry eye summit
  • Int'l Joint Research