contact lens care
The Latest Research in Contact Lens Care
BY SUSAN J. GROMACKI, OD, MS, FAAO

The contact lens solution industry is continuously working to provide better products. More efficacious and biocompatible solutions lead to cleaner and more comfortable lenses, resulting in more satisfied patients and practitioners. Better technology benefits all parties; it is good business.

Here are research highlights of the most recent American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association meetings. Study sponsors appear in parentheses at the end of each summary. Consider the research source when evaluating outcomes.

Robboy and China After one hour of wear, 14 of 19 dry eye subjects preferred PureVision lenses pre-treated with ReNu with MoistureLoc (Bausch & Lomb); five subjects preferred O₂Optix/Aquify 5-minute MPS (CIBA Vision). (B&L)

Reindel et al On average, 152 contact lens wearers reported improved comfort after two weeks and one, two and three months when using ReNu with MoistureLoc as compared with their habitual solution. (B&L)

Garofalo et al Patients rated Alcon's test disinfection formula superior to ReNu MultiPlus MPS (B&L) in comfort and satisfaction. Lens deposit and surface evaluation scores were also better with the test formulation. (Alcon)

Carey et al There are differences in uptake of solutions when combining use of alexidine, polyhexanide (PHMB) or polyquaternium-1 (Polyquad) with different lens materials (Soflens 66 [B&L], Acuvue 2 and Acuvue Advance [Vistakon]). Lenses cycled with the Polyquad-based product showed minimal uptake into lenses; corneal staining was low for all materials tested. (Alcon)

Stauffer et al Using a no-rub/rinse regimen on Acuvue 2, Alcon's new formulation and Opti-Free Express exceeded ReNu MultiPlus, Complete Moisture Plus (AMO), Aquify and ReNu with MoistureLoc in removal of lysozyme. (Alcon)

Garofalo et al Subjects who wore Group I silicone hydrogel or Group II hydrogel lenses soaked in ReNu MultiPlus, Solo-care (CIBA) or Complete Moisture Plus exhibited asymptomatic, statistically significant corneal staining during the first few hours of lens wear; not with Opti-Free Express. (Alcon)

Groemminger and Dobie After exposure to harsh denaturation conditions, ReNu with MoistureLoc enabled more lysozyme to remain in its native (active) form than did Opti-Free Express, Solo-care Aqua or Complete Moisture Plus. (B&L)

Rosenthal et al Not rinsing lenses prior to disinfection with multipurpose solutions results in less efficacious cleaning. Opti-Free Express displayed more antimicrobial effects than did Solo-care, Complete Moisture Plus or CyClean (Sauflon Pharmaceuticals). (Alcon)

Ketelson et al Pre-soaking/treating Acuvue Advance lenses in Opti-Free Express may improve wettability and comfort. (Alcon)

Borazjani et al ReNu MultiPlus and ReNu with MoistureLoc showed higher cumulative log reduction values in microorganisms than did Opti-Free Express, Solo-care Plus, Complete and Complete Moisture Plus. (B&L)

Gruss et al Opti-Free Express exacerbates the alteration of tear protein composition, while Complete MPS restores tears similar to a non-lens-wearing state.

Lievens et al Of ReNu, Opti-Free Express and Complete, only ReNu showed statistically or nearly significant adverse changes in tear break up time, bulbar conjunctival injection and corneal sensitivity.

Paugh et al A carboxymethylcellulose drop, instilled before lens insertion, may reduce corneal staining resulting from disinfection with a PHMB-based multipurpose solution. (Allergan)

Dr. Gromacki is in group practice in Burke, Virginia, and has served as a faculty member at the University of Michigan Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.