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Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
Success of Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lens Fitting
Sara Ortiz-Toquero1, Mario Martin, Guadalupe Rodriguez
1Departamento de Física Teórica (S.O.-T., G.R., V.d.J., R.M.), Atómica y Óptica, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, España; Universidad de Valladolid (S.O.-T., G.R., V.d.J., R.M.), Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Valladolid, España; and Optometry Research Group (S.O.-T., M.M., G.R., V.d.J., R.M.), IOBA Eye Institute, School of Optometry, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
Objectives:
To assess the percentage of successful rigid gas permeable (GP) contact lenses (CLs) fit for both refractive and therapeutic reasons.
Methods:
New CLs (soft or GP) fittings were retrospectively analyzed and divided into refractive and therapeutic prescriptions. A standardized fitting protocol that included complete CLs information after a first eye examination, a diagnostic fitting visit, a dispensing visit, and a prescribing visit was used in all fittings. A GP fitting was defined as successful if full-time wear and optimal ocular surface physiology were both achieved at the review assessment 2 to 3 weeks after lens dispensing.
Results:
Of 232 new CLs fittings analyzed, 166 were refractive fittings (71.6%) and 66 were therapeutic (28.4%). Of the refractive fittings, 88 subjects (53%) were initially fitted with GP CLs and 61 (69.3%) of these met the criteria for successful GP fitting. Within this group, a different percentage of successful fits were found for neophyte (72%), previous soft lens wearers (62%), and previous GP wearers (92.3%). Of the therapeutic fittings, 61 subjects (92.4%) were initially fitted with GP CLs and 59 (96.7%) of these met the criteria for successful GP fitting.
Conclusions:
Following a standardized CLs fitting protocol, a relatively high percentage of successful GP fits was achieved for refractive (7/10 subjects) and therapeutic (9/10 subjects) prescriptions. These results will improve the information available to patients and aid in their CL choices by providing them with a realistic attitude. It will also help eye care practitioners in their clinical activities by providing evidence-based information.

