Protein Analysis of the Surface of Orthokeratology Lenses

Introduction: Overnight orthokeratology (OK) lenses control myopia in children, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that ocular surface proteins might deposit directly on the surface of OK lenses during wear. This could offer a noninvasive method for investigating the potential molecular mechanisms behind the myopia control effect of OK lenses. Case Presentation: A healthy 30-year-old male without prior contact lens wear history wore bespoke OK lenses overnight. After lens removal, proteomic analysis was performed using nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify proteins on the surface of the lenses. Proteomic analysis identified 423 proteins on the right OK lens and 303 on the left, with 273 proteins common to both lenses. The proteins originated from various cellular compartments. Conclusion: Ocular surface proteins can be detected directly from OK lenses, offering a novel approach to studying the molecular mechanisms of myopia control.