Dryness and discomfort with silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether symptoms of dryness and discomfort are experienced differently with silicone hydrogel lenses compared to conventional hydrogels, in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.

METHODS

Thirty-nine symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects wore four types of lenses: Focus NIGHT & DAY (CIBA Vision), Focus DAILIES (CIBA Vision), ACUVUE 2 (Johnson & Johnson Visioncare) and Proclear Compatibles (CooperVision) contralaterally for 7 hours and rated comfort and dryness on a zero-to-100 point visual analog scale at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 hours.

RESULTS

In both groups, no lens differences were found for comfort and dryness, but the comfort and dryness ratings of the symptomatic group decreased significantly (became worse) over the 7-hour period.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that dryness and comfort is the same over time with silicone hydrogel as with the other three lenses.