Fast versus gradual adaptation of soft daily disposable contact lenses in neophyte wearers

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the widespread practice of gradually adapting all new soft contact lens wearers (neophytes), there is little evidence-based research underpinning such practice. This work determined if a gradual adaptation period is necessary for neophytes when fitted with modern hydrogel or silicone-hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses. Method: At four sites, neophytes (19–32 years) were randomly assigned to an adaptation schedule: fast (10 h wear from the first day) or gradual (4 h on the first day, increasing their wear-time by 2 h on each subsequent day until they had reached 10 h) with hydrogel (n = 24 fast; n = 21 gradual) or silicone-hydrogel (n = 10 fast; n = 10 gradual) contact lenses. Masked investigators graded ocular surface physiology and non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT). A range of subjective scores (using 0–100 visual analogue scales) were recorded at the initial visit and after 10 h of lens wear, 4–6 days and 12–14 days after initial fitting. Subjective scores were also repeated after 7 days. Results: There was no difference (p > 0.05) in ocular surface physiology between the fast and gradual adaptation groups at any time point in either lens type. NIBUT was similar at all time points for both adaptation groups in both lens types with the exception that the gradual adaptation silicone-hydrogel wearers had a slightly longer NIBUT (p = 0.007) than the fast adaptation group at 12-14 days. Subjective scores were also similar across the visits and lens types with the exception of ‘lens awareness’ and ‘ease of lens removal’ which were better (p < 0.05) in the fast compared with the gradual adaptation hydrogel lens group at day 7. Additionally, ‘end-of-day discomfort’ was better (p = 0.02) in the fast compared with the gradual adaptation hydrogel lens group at 12–14 days. Conclusion: There appears to be no benefit in daily disposable soft contact lens adaptation for neophytes with modern contact lens materials.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2019.08.011
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry & Vision Science Research Group (OVSRG)
College of Health & Life Sciences
Aston University (General)
Additional Information: © 2019, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Funding: Alcon, Bausch and Lomb, Coopervision, No7 Contact Lenses and David Thomas/Menicon.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Adaptation,Daily disposable,Fast,Gradual,Neophyte,Soft contact lens,Ophthalmology,Optometry
Publication ISSN: 1476-5411
Last Modified: 14 Nov 2024 08:13
Date Deposited: 02 Oct 2019 09:09
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: https://linking ... 367048419301936 (Publisher URL)
http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2020-06-01
Published Online Date: 2019-09-20
Accepted Date: 2019-08-31
Authors: Wolffsohn, James S (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-4673-8927)
Dhirajlal, Harshali
Vianya-estopa, Marta
Nagra, Manbir
Madden, Louise
Sweeney, Laura Elaine
Goodyear, Anna Sarah
Kerr, Lauren Victoria
Terry, Louise
Sheikh, Sabrina
Murphy, Orla
Lloyd, Aoife
Maldonado-codina, Carole

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