Ocular and subjective responses to frequent replacement of daily wear soft contact lenses

Abstract

PURPOSE: A significant number of soft contact lens wearers develop complications as a result of lens contamination. We conducted a single-blind 2 year clinical trial to determine if scheduled frequent replacement of lenses decreases complications.----- METHODS: One hundred nineteen non-contact lens wearers were fit with soft contact lenses and randomly assigned to 1 or 3 month replacement schedules or a non-replacement (control) group. All subjects were fit with 0.04 mm thick HEMA (water content: 38%) lenses to be worn on a daily wear basis only. A single multipurpose solution was prescribed for cleaning and disinfection.----- RESULTS: The 2-year results showed a significantly greater number of subjects in the non-replacement group exhibited microcysts, infiltrates, clinically significant corneal staining, and limbal and bulbar injection. As a result of lens deposition and damage, approximately twice the number of unscheduled lens replacements per subject were necessary in the non-replacement group compared with the 1 and 3 month replacement groups. Overall subject satisfaction with lens wear decreased in the non-replacement group and increased in the 1 and 3 month replacement groups over the 2-year period.----- CONCLUSIONS: Frequent replacement of soft lenses for daily wear as compared to non-replacement daily wear: 1) is less likely to cause contact lens induced complications; 2) reduces the number of unscheduled lens replacements; and 3) improves satisfaction with lens wear