Effectiveness of moisturizing daily disposable lenses with additives

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Recently, contact lens manfacturers are incorporating moisture additives in their contact lenses. Examples include povidone in 1‐DAY ACUVUE MOIST lenses, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in DAILIES with AquaComfort lenses and hydroxypropyl‐methylcellulose, polyethylene‐glycol and PVA in the DAILIES AquaComfort Plus lenses. These two trials were aimed to compare the effectiveness of these additives to general lens performance. Methods In the first trial, 20 investigators in the US and Germany enrolled 276 subjects currently wearing nelfilcon A with PVA (nefA+1) lenses in daily disposable modality of comparison to nelfilcon A with moisturizing additives (HPMC, PEG and PVA (nefA+3) for ten days. In the second trial, 14 investigators in Germany enrolled 314 current daily disposable wearers to wear nelfilcon A with moisturizing additives HPMC, PEG and PVA (nefA+3), and etafilcon A with added PVP (etaA+1) for one week each. Results 273 subjects completed the first trial. Comfort upon insertion was rated 9.1 for nelfilcon A with moisturizing additives (nefA+3) and 8.7 for nelfilcon A lenses (nefA+1); comfort during the day was 8.7 and 8.7, respectively; end of day comfort was 7.9 and 7.2, respectively; overall comfort was 8.6 and 8.4, respectively. 309 subjects completed the second trial. Comfort upon insertion was rated 8.6 for nefA+3 and 7.6 for etaA+1; comfort during the day was 8.4 and 7.8, respectively; end of day comfort was 7.2 and 6.6, respectively; overall comfort was 8.4 and 7.5, respectively. Conclusion Mean comfort ratings were significantly in favor of nelfilcon A with additives HPMC, PEG and PVA in both trials. Future innovations in daily disposable lenses with added moisturizes to last throughout the day should be expected. Commercial interest