Evaluation of corneal staining and patient preference with use of three multi-purpose solutions and two brands of soft contact lenses.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical signs and symptoms vary depending on contact lens brand, lens care products, or a combination of the two. Studies evaluated corneal staining and subject preference associated with three multipurpose solutions (MPS) and two soft contact lens brands.


METHODS
Two sites conducted the randomized, investigator-masked, 2-month crossover studies. Forty-five subjects used regimen 1 (No Rub Opti-Free Express MPS [Alcon, Fort Worth, TX]) and regimen 2 (Complete MPS [Allergan, Irvine, CA]) for 1 month each (study 1). In study 2, 44 subjects used regimen 1 and regimen 3 (ReNu MultiPlus MPS [Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY]). ACUVUE 2 (Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Jacksonville, FL) or SofLens 66 (Bausch & Lomb) lenses were randomly assigned to subjects for the duration of the study. Corneal staining was evaluated on days 0 (baseline), 7, 14, and 28 of each month.


RESULTS
Corneal staining was significantly worse with regimen 3 for both lens brands at day 28 compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Significant differences in staining were noted between regimens 1 and 3 throughout the study, primarily with SofLens 66 lenses (P </= 0.0002). No consistent changes in staining were noted with regimens 1 and 2. Also, significantly more subjects preferred the comfort of regimen 1 (61.8%) to that of regimen 3 (11.8%). More subjects preferred the comfort of regimen 1 (57.1%) to that of regimen 3 (10.7%) compared with their prestudy regimen.


CONCLUSIONS
These studies showed that chemical variations between lens care systems and their interaction with contact lens materials create significant clinical, physiologic, and subjective preference differences.
Lebow
Kenneth A
KA
Virginia Beach, Virginia. kalebow@infionline.net
Schachet
John L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D019793:Fluorescein