Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To compare subjective responses and ocular surface physiology in younger and older soft continuous lens wearers. Methods:116 subjects younger than 40 years and 52 older than 40 years completed 6 months of continuous wear of silicone hydrogel lenses. The wear schedule was a maximum of 30 nights. The ratio of males to females was 1:1.4. At the 6 month visit subjects were questioned about their dryness symptoms and rated overall and end of day comfort on a 1 to 100 scale. The variables: lens wettability, mean bulbar, limbal and palpebral conjunctival redness as well as corneal and conjunctival staining were graded on the CCLRU 1 to 4 scale. Results:Reports of dryness were more frequent among females than males (51% vs 36%, p = 0.02) and in younger than older subjects (49% vs 35%, p = 0.04). Overall comfort ratings were similar between the two groups, but comfort at the end of the day was rated as being better by the older group (83 ± 18 vs 91 ± 11, p=0.02). Younger subjects had slightly more palpebral redness (2.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.9 ± 0.3, p = 0.02), otherwise there were no significant differences in any of the objective variables measured: Wettability, 1.8 ± 0.4 vs 1.9 ± 0.5; Bulbar redness, 2.1 ± 0.2 vs 2.2 ± 0.2; Limbal redness, 1.9 ± 0.3 vs 1.8 ± 0.3; Corneal staining, 0.2 ± 0.3 vs 0.1 ± 0.2; Conjunctival staining, 0.7 ± 0.6 vs 0.6 ± 0.4. Conclusion:Based on the variables assessed in this study, older wearers appear at least as likely to be successful during continuous wear of silicone hydrogel lenses as younger individuals.
Keywords: 367 contact lens • 519 physiological optics