Review of 20 years of soft contact lens wearer ocular physiology data

Since the introduction of Silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses 20 years ago, industry has continued to modify lens materials, designs, lens care products and manufacturing processes, striving to improve contact lens physiological performance, comfort, and convenience for wearers. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ocular health of habitual soft contact lens wearers today is better than it was in previous decades.

Baseline ocular physiology data for 3624 participants from a The Brien Holden Vision Institute clinical trials database were retrospectively reviewed. Records were grouped into 3 time periods; A: >2 decades ago (1997-1999), B: one decade ago (2009-2014) and C: recent years (since 2015). Physiology data for both neophytes and habitual contact lens wearers included; bulbar, limbal and upper palpebral conjunctival redness, corneal and conjunctival staining and conjunctival indentation from contact lenses.

Corneal staining levels are similar between neophytes and contact lens wearers at time points A and C but worse for contact lens wearers at time point B. Limbal redness was greater in contact lens wearers than in neophytes at time point A but at time points B and C they are not different to the non-contact lens wearing population. In recent years, most ocular physiological variables in habitual contact lens wearers are similar to neophytes.

While there have been changes over the past two decades in ocular physiological responses to contact lens wear, it appears that ocular health with current day contact lens wear is similar to no lens wear in most respects.