Abstract
Purpose :
Four in vitro studies evaluated an investigational lens packaged in a saline solution containing copolymer 845 (CO845) and a novel wetting agent EOBO (polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene) for improved wetting substantivity and lubricity.
Methods :
Lotrafilcon B lenses with and without EOBO added to the packaging saline solution already containing CO845 were evaluated for wetting substantivity via the sessile drop technique (VCA Optima system). Study 1: Contact angle measurements were obtained after 0x, 3x, 5x and 10x successive saline/air exposure cycles to capture changes in contact angle over time. Study 2: Contact angle measurements were obtained out-of-pack and after 16 hours of incubation in 1mL saline/lens at 35°C. Lotrafilcon B lenses in 4 packaging saline solutions (a. PBS, b. CO845, c. EOBO, d. CO845+EOBO) were evaluated for coefficient of friction (CoF) out-of-pack using a colloidal probe attached to a microfabricated AFM cantilever (study 3) and using a microtribometer with a borosilicate glass probe (study 4).
Results :
Lotrafilcon B lenses packaged in saline containing EOBO+CO845 were associated with significantly lower contact angles after ten successive saline/air exposure cycles compared to lenses without EOBO (13°± 9 vs. 35°± 9; p<0.0001). After 16 hours’ incubation in saline, the contact angles of the investigational lenses containing EOBO in the packaging solution were maintained significantly lower relative to control lenses (8°± 2 vs. 21°± 2; p<0.001). CoF of the investigational lenses as measured by AFM showed significant improvement over lotrafilcon B packaged in PBS (0.255 ± 0.100 vs. 1.120±0.360; p<0.05); however only the more sensitive microtribometer could distinguish differences in CoF among all 4 packaging saline solutions with the rank order PBS> EOBO>CO845 ≥ CO845 +EOBO.
Conclusions :
The addition of EOBO to the saline of the lotrafilcon B lens containing CO845 improved wetting substantivity and lubricity of the lotrafilcon B lens when measured by multiple in vitro techniques.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.