The Impact of Advanced Surface Moisturizing Technologies on Contact Lens Comfort in Digital Platform Users

To evaluate and compare the on-eye performance and comfort of two lotrafilcon B contact lenses, each manufactured using different surface moisturizing technologies, in individuals who use digital platforms for more than 3 hours daily.

Twenty-nine asymptomatic habitual contact lens wearers participated in a randomized, double-masked crossover study. Each subject wore either Air Optix Aqua or Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde contact lenses for a month before switching to the other lens type for another month. Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire 8 (CLDEQ-8) scores, biomicroscopic examination, tear function tests, and blink rates were recorded at baseline and at the end of each month. The patients were asked to complete a Likert-type questionnaire evaluating vision and comfort, along with first-impression ratings for visual clarity, comfort, and dryness with each lens.

The mean age of patients was 25.5±7.2 years. Tarsal papillary grade was significantly lower, and tear-film break up time was higher with Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde lenses compared to Air Optix Aqua lenses (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two lenses in terms of slit-lamp findings, Schirmer's test, blink rate, or CLDEQ-8 scores (p>0.05). Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde lenses provided significantly better end-of-day comfort and less blurred vision, dryness, and eye tiredness (p<0.05).

Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde lenses with advanced surface moisturizing technology were superior in terms of end-of-day comfort, end-of-month comfort, and visual clarity. Technological advances in silicone hydrogel lens surface treatments seem to be helpful in improving contact lens comfort in lens wearers with moderate daily exposure to digital devices.