A new oxygen transmissibility concept for hydrogel contact lenses

Abstract

The equivalent oxygen percentage (EOP) and the laboratory benchtop-measured oxygen transmissibility, Dk/L, have been alternative descriptions of contact lens performance on the eye. It is now proposed to combine EOP and Dk/L into a single term called the biological oxygen apparent transmissibility (BOAT). This new description of oxygen delivery to the cornea explains many observations that have not been previously explainable by either EOP or Dk/L alone. The BOAT concept shows that efforts to make more permeable hydrogel lens materials or thinner lenses may not be useful.