Related Experiment Videos
Gentle Touch, a lens material resistant to protein deposition
1Pilkington Barnes Hind, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-5200, USA.
Summary
Gentle Touch contact lenses, made with netrafilcon A, show superior resistance to protein deposits compared to Acuvue lenses. Both in vivo and in vitro studies confirm significantly lower protein accumulation on Gentle Touch lenses, indicating better lens hygiene.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Contact Lens Technology
Background:
- Protein deposition is a common issue with contact lenses, potentially leading to discomfort and reduced visual acuity.
- Non-ionic lens materials are theorized to have reduced protein adhesion compared to ionic materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the protein deposit resistance of Gentle Touch (netrafilcon A) contact lenses.
- To compare the protein deposition levels of Gentle Touch lenses against Acuvue (etafilcon A) soft contact lenses.
Main Methods:
- In vivo study: Patient wear of Gentle Touch and Acuvue lenses for 1-2 weeks.
- In vitro study: Coating of lenses with artificial tears and an FDA-recommended tear solution.
- Quantification of protein deposits using microgram measurements per lens.
Main Results:
- Gentle Touch lenses exhibited significantly lower protein deposits (1.5-2.8 µg/lens) compared to Acuvue lenses (338-444 µg/lens) after in vivo wear.
- In vitro heat-coating showed 6.5 µg/lens on Gentle Touch versus nearly 100 µg/lens on Acuvue.
- Artificial tear solution resulted in non-detectable protein on Gentle Touch lenses versus over 358 µg/lens on Acuvue lenses.
Conclusions:
- Gentle Touch non-ionic contact lenses demonstrate a high degree of resistance to protein deposit formation.
- The netrafilcon A material in Gentle Touch lenses offers a significant advantage in maintaining lens cleanliness over ionic materials like etafilcon A.