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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
Multipurpose disinfecting solutions and their interactions with a silicone hydrogel lens
Luigina Sorbara1, Rachael Peterson, Craig Woods
1Centre for Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. gsorbara@scimail.uwaterloo.ca
This study evaluated asmofilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses with four multipurpose disinfecting solutions. While some corneal staining occurred, it was not clinically relevant, suggesting good lens-care compatibility.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Contact Lens Technology
Background:
- Silicone hydrogel contact lenses offer improved oxygen permeability.
- Multipurpose disinfecting solutions (MPS) are widely used for contact lens care.
- Assessing the compatibility of novel lens materials with existing care systems is crucial for safe and effective contact lens wear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the ocular and subjective compatibility of the novel silicone hydrogel lens, asmofilcon A.
- To compare the performance of asmofilcon A with four different multipurpose disinfecting solutions: OPTIFREE RepleniSH, ReNu MultiPlus, Solo-Care Aqua, and MeniCare Soft.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, bilateral, randomized cross-over clinical trial was conducted.
- Twenty-five adapted soft contact lens wearers participated.
- Ocular responses (e.g., corneal staining) and subjective responses (comfort, dryness, burning) were monitored over two consecutive days of lens wear for each lens-care system combination.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in corneal staining were observed between day 1 (fresh lenses) and day 2 (after disinfection) for all lens-care systems (P < 0.05).
- ReNu MultiPlus showed the highest initial corneal staining on day 2, which decreased over time.
- No significant differences in subjective comfort were found across the lens-care systems. Dryness and burning sensations were minimally increased, except for ReNu MultiPlus where burning was highest upon insertion.
Conclusions:
- Corneal staining was not linked to polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) in the disinfecting solutions.
- ReNu MultiPlus was associated with statistically significant corneal staining, but it was not clinically relevant.
- The novel surface-treated asmofilcon A silicone hydrogel lens demonstrates promising compatibility with the tested multipurpose disinfecting solutions, suggesting minimal lens and lens care-related interactions.
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