The stability of dryness symptoms after refitting with silicone hydrogel contact lenses over 3 years.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the stability of dryness symptoms after refitting patients wearing low-Dk/t hydrogel contact lenses with high-Dk/t silicone hydrogel contact lenses and to determine whether early dryness symptoms were predictive of discontinuation in the 3-year study.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy-eight hydrogel lens wearers were refitted with lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lenses for continuous wear of up to 30 nights. Self-administered questionnaires at baseline, 1 week, and 3 years captured the frequency and intensity of dryness symptoms during the day and at the end of the day. One-week and 3-year responses were compared to baseline by a Bowker test of symmetry and median change in response with Wilcoxon signed rank test.


RESULTS
Frequency of during-the-day and end-of-day dryness decreased from baseline to 1 week and 3 years (during the day, frequency > or = "sometimes" 57.1% vs. 33.1% after 1 week and 58.5% vs. 28.8% after 3 years; end of day, 61.1% vs. 41.0% after 1 week and 64.0% vs. 35.9% after 3 years [P<0.0001 for all comparisons]). After refitting, the proportion of subjects with dryness symptoms was stable. After 1 week, the presence of frequency of at least "sometimes" and severity of at least "moderate" during-the-day and end-of-day dryness were significantly associated with study discontinuation (during-the-day frequency [P=0.007] and severity [P=0.017]; end-of-day frequency [P=0.002] and severity [P=0.003]).


CONCLUSIONS
Dryness symptoms improved after 1 week of refitting with lotrafilcon A and remained stable through 3 years. The presence of dryness after 1 week was associated with discontinuation from contact lens wear. Refitting with silicone hydrogel lenses reduced the frequency and severity of dryness symptoms seen with hydrogel lens wear for many subjects.
Schafer
Jeffrey
J
Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, OH, USA.
Mitchell
G Lynn
GL
Chalmers
Robin L
RL
Long
Bill
B
Dillehay
Sally
S
Barr
Joseph
J
Bergenske
Peter
P
Donshik
Peter
P
Secor
Glenda
G
Yoakum
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003262:Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D019233:Retreatment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012828:Silicones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005466:Fluorocarbons
D020100:Hydrogels; D012828:Silicones; C481129:lotrafilcon A; D005466:Fluorocarbons