Patient response to hydrogel contact lenses: a comparative study

Eleven subject (22 eyes) wore the best fitting lenses of each of four different types of hydrogel contact lenses (Bausch and Lomb Soflens contact lenses, Hydrocurve HCII contact lenses, AOSOFT-TM/Aquaflex hydrophilic contact lenses, and Alcon Tresoft contact lenses) in a random order for 2-3 week periods so that their short-term responses to the lenses could be evaluated and compared. None of the subjects had any contraindications to hydrogel lens wear. All the lenses centered well with proper movement. Using a double masked procedures, we evaluated each patient's response to each lens type according to the standard of success of Sarver, Harris and Polse. Approximately 63% to 72% of the patients were successful with each lens type. We found no statistically significant differences in the patients' responses to the different lens types, even though individual differences were found. The majority of our subjects were successful with several or all of the lens types evaluated.