Synergeyes versus soft toric lenses: vision-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to contrast the clinical and vision-related quality of life outcomes between Synergeyes, a hybrid contact lens, and Bausch & Lomb Soflens 66 Toric contact lenses in a cross-over design. Also, to determine subject preference of one mode of lens wear over the other.

METHODS

The Synergeyes lens has a central rigid gas permeable portion made of Paragon HDS100 material (paflufocon D) bonded to the nonionic hydrophilic skirt material of 27% water (PolyHEMA hem-iberfilcon A). The Soflens 66 Toric lens is made of a nonionic hydrophilic 66% water (alphafilcon A) material. Subjects age 18 years and older with spherical refractive error between -0.50 and -8.00 D and astigmatism correction of -0.75 to -3.50 D were randomly assigned to wear one mode of contact lens for 1 month then wear the alternate mode for 1 month. Follow-up visits were done at 1 and 4 weeks. Data gathered at these visits included high-contrast log MAR distance visual acuity, average wearing time, comfortable wearing time, over-refraction, and slit lamp observations for corneal edema, conjunctival hyperemia, and corneal staining. At each visit, subjects were asked to rate overall comfort, dryness, and comfortable wearing time. Subjects were asked to complete the NEI-RQL-42 questionnaire at the end of each lens wearing period. Upon completion of both lens wearing modes, subjects were asked to choose their preferred mode.

RESULTS

Fifty subjects completed the study; 22 (44%) preferred the Synergeyes lenses, and 28 (56%) preferred the Soflens 66 Toric soft lenses. Measured visual acuity was significantly better with the Synergeyes lenses. Of the 13 attributes analyzed in the RQL-42, a statistically significant difference between the two modes was found in only one category, "symptoms." In that category, subjects indicated fewer symptoms when wearing soft lenses. The subjects' ratings also showed significantly more comfort while wearing the soft toric lenses.

CONCLUSIONS

Bausch & Lomb Soflens 66 Toric lenses were more comfortable and were perceived to produce less symptoms of dryness, itchiness, and lens awareness than Synergeyes lenses. Synergeyes lenses gave better visual acuity than the soft toric lenses.