title: UV-vis light transmittance through tinted contact lenses and the effect of color on values.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the transmittance, in the 200-700nm electromagnetic radiation spectrum, by popularly used tinted soft contact lenses (CLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The spectra transmittances of ultraviolet (UV)-blocking (I Day Acuvue Define, Freshlook ONE DAY) and non-UV-blocking (Durasoft 3, Tutti, and NeoCosmo) tinted soft CLs were tested. The transmittance of each lens, including nine different colors of Freshlook CL was recorded on spectrophotometer, and the data used to also calculate a UV protection factor (PF) for each lens brand tested, with a higher value indicating a higher level of protection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The UV-blocking CLs significantly reduced UVC, UVB & UVA transmission and thereby meet the American National Standards Institution standard for class 2 UV blockers: a maximum of 30% transmittance of UVA and 5% transmittance of UVB wavelengths. In contrast, the Durasoft 3, Tutti, and NeoCosmo CLs demonstrated negligible UV-blockage. The Acuvue Define CL offered the greatest protection from UVC (PF=69) and UVB (PF=55), but with only 35% luminous transmittance, while the Freshlook CL (especially gemstone green) offered the best protection from UVA (PF=24) and showed about 55% translucency. Overall, the UV-blocking CLs performed equally well across the UV spectrum. Different colors of Freshlook CL transmitted statistically and clinically significantly different amounts of visible light but similar amounts of UVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Freshlook and Acuvue Define CLs which are designated as UV-blockers significantly reduced UVR transmission to safe levels whereas Tutti, NeoCosmo and Durasoft 3 did not. Transmission within the Freshlook CL family was more dependent on color in the visible light spectrum, but not in the UV-spectrum, where the gemstone green performing best among the tested colors.
authors.affiliation: Corneal Research Chair, Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 10219 Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: uosuagwu@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Uchechukwu L
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Osuagwu
authors.affiliation: Corneal Research Chair, Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 10219 Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Kelechi C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ogbuehi
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation; D003116:Color; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000145:classification*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011874:Radiometry; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Acuvue; Contact lens; Freshlook; Light transmission; Ocular protection; Ultraviolet radiation (UVR)