5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Silicone hydrogel lenses are prescribed three times more than hydrogel lenses, with prescribing rates increasing from 4-5% in 2000 to 70-80% in the 2010s.

• 2

  SiHy lenses are the first-choice for daily wear and daily disposable categories for patients with low refractive errors.

• 3

  There is no significant difference in lens-associated papillary conjunctivitis rates between SiHy and hydrogel lenses.

• 4

  SiHy lenses have a higher incidence of corneal infiltrates in daily and extended wear but not in daily disposable categories.

• 5

  Pediatric patients require special considerations for SiHy use, including hygiene, compliance, and a detailed risk/benefit analysis.