title: Clinical trial of a patient-operated microwave care system for hydrogel contact lenses.
abstract: The clinical effects of a patient-operated system of microwave disinfection for soft contact lenses were assessed in a prospective pilot trial involving 103 patients who were drawn from five optometric practices. Fifty-six subjects used the test system for 1 month, and 13 subjects continued use for a total of 3 months. Both test and control subjects were examined for clinical signs using slitlamp tests. After 1 month, the incidence of all signs reported in the microwave group was not significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.267), and the same was true after 3 months (p = 0.214). There was a significantly greater incidence of edema in the 1-month test group and of staining in the control group. UV spectroscopic examination of worn lenses from test subjects exhibiting significant signs did not show a higher level of deposition than on lenses worn by control subjects (p = 0.397).
authors.affiliation: Department of Design, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. anthony.crabbe@ntu.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crabbe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000528:radiation effects; D008872:Microwaves; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate