Corneal sensitivity in new silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers

To explore the influence of silicone-hydrogel contact lens (CL) neophyte wear on corneal sensitivity and its correlation with CL comfort.

In this prospective longitudinal clinical study 42 participants new to CL wear were recruited for three visits over a period of six weeks with Visit 2 being 7 ± 2 days after Visit 1, and Visit 3 being six weeks ±2 days after Visit 1. Corneal sensitivity was measured in the right eye at each visit, using the Swiss Liquid Jet Aesthesiometer for Corneal Sensitivity (SLACS). Participants completed the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ-8©) during the second and third visits to assess CL comfort.

38 participants (mean age: 26.55 ± 5.7 years; 26 females and 12 males aged: 25.23 ± 5.3 years and 29.42 ± 5.8 years respectively) completed the study. No significant difference in the corneal sensory threshold was noted between the three visits (p = 0.175, ηp² = 0.044, ANOVA repeated measures). However, a difference in corneal sensory threshold between visit was dependent on gender (visit*gender p = 0.004, ηp² = 0.214); with a decreasing trend in corneal sensitivity observed in females compared to an increasing trend in males. No significant correlations were obtained between corneal sensitivity and CL comfort after one week (Spearman correlation coefficient r = -0.138, p = 0.409) or six weeks (Spearman correlation coefficient r = -0.073, p = 0.662).

The adaptation of silicone hydrogel CLs to new wearers did not cause any change in corneal sensitivity during the first six weeks of CL wear. However, the effect of gender and its influence on corneal sensitivity requires further investigation.