Effects of senofilcon A and lotrafilcon B bandage contact lenses on epithelial healing and pain management after bilateral photorefractive keratectomy

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare postoperative epithelial healing time and ocular discomfort score in patients wearing two types of silicon hydrogel bandage contact lenses (BCLs) following bilateral photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). MethodsFor the study’s contralateral eye comparison, 43 patients who underwent bilateral PRK were randomized to be fitted for a senofilcon a lens in one eye and a lotrafilcon B lens in the other. The patients were masked to the specific BCL in each eye. On the first 3 days after PRK, the epithelial defect size was calculated, and patients reported their level of ocular discomfort, including pain, epiphora, and photophobia, on a visual analog scale (0 = no pain or discomfort, 10 = highest level of pain and discomfort). ResultsEpithelial defect size (mm2) did not differ significantly between the BCLs on Day 1 (senofilcon A vs. lotrafilcon B: 14.15 ± 5.59 vs. 14.93 ± 5.72, p = .327), Day 2 (senofilcon A vs. lotrafilcon B: 7.43 ± 4.67 vs. 7.04 ± 3.82, p = .586), or Day 3 (senofilcon A vs. lotrafilcon B: 0.59 ± 1.44 vs. 0.38 ± 1.08, p = .348) postoperation. By Day 3, re-epithelialization was complete in 35 eyes (81.3%) with senofilcon A lenses and 36 eyes (83.7%) with lotrafilcon B lenses. Patients reported less pain in eyes with senofilcon A lenses during the first 3 days postoperation (for all, p < .001) and less epiphora during the first 2 days postoperation (Day 1: p = .008, Day 2: p < .001, Day 3: p = .267) than in eyes with lotrafilcon B lenses. No significant difference in photophobia emerged between the BCLs postoperatively (for all, p > .05). ConclusionsAlthough duration of corneal re-epithelialization after PRK between the two BCLs did not differ significantly, senofilcon A lenses caused significantly less pain and epiphora after PRK.