The impact of daily disposable soft contact lens wear on tear film surface quality over a three month period

Abstract

PurposeTo study the changes in Tear Film Surface Quality (TFSQ) on a Silicon Hydrogel (SiHy) and a Hydrogel (Hy) daily contact lens (CL), during a follow‐up period of three months.MethodsForty‐six subjects aged 25.5 ± 4.3 (mean ± standard deviation) years with a refractive error limited to ±4.50 spherical and ±0.75 cylindrical dioptres were recruited. Based on a pre‐clinical analysis which took into account visual acuity (VA), comfort, and fitting, 31 subjects were fitted with SiHy and 13 with Hy lenses. TFSQ was studied based on measurements of the first and the mean non‐invasive keratography tear break up time (F/M–NIKBUT). All measurements were acquired at baseline, post four hours (4 h) and three months (3 m) of CL lens wear. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was also completed.ResultsThe results of the OSDI questionnaire showed an average improvement of 3.09 and 4.16 units for 3 m visit for SiHy and Hy lens, respectively. Nevertheless, this improvement was not statistically significant (p = 0.144 and p = 0.215). For F‐NIKBUT, there was no significant difference between 4h and 3m measurements (p=0.490 and p = 0.588 for SiHy and Hy lens, respectively). For M‐NIKBUT, there was no significant difference for SiHy and Hy groups between baseline and 4 h (p = 0.052 and p = 0.110, respectively). However, there was a significant difference between baseline and 3 m for SiHy group (p = 0.009) but not for the Hy group (p = 0.376). Lastly, no significant differences were observed between 4 h and 3 m M‐NIKBUT measurements for both lenses (p = 0.746 and p = 0.273 for SiHy and Hy lens, respectively).ConclusionsThe results indicate that estimates of 4 h of lens wear NIKBUT can be used to predict those at a 3 m visit. Also, Hy lens appeared to have less impact on TFSQ than the SiHy lens.