Fast versus gradual adaptation of soft monthly contact lenses in neophyte wearers

• Main Authors: Wolffsohn, J.S., Ghorbani Mojarrad, Neema, Vianya-Estopa, M., Nagra, M., Huntjens, B., Terry, L., Sweeney, L.E., Dutta, D., Joshi, M.R., Wright, D., Bruce, H., Hallam, E., Jolly, L., Chung, Y.B., Tsen, J.R.E., Bishop, A., Davison, R., Maldonado-Codina, C.
• Other Authors: British and Irish University and College Contact Lens Educators (BUCCLE)
• Language: en
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Soft contact lens; Reusable; Adaptation; Neophyte; Fast; Gradual
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10454/18649

Yes === To determine if a gradual adaptation period is necessary for neophytes when fitted with modern hydrogel or silicone hydrogel reusable disposable contact lenses. Across four sites, 74 neophytes (18-28 years) were randomly assigned to a reusable lens cleaned nightly with Opti-Free® Puremoist® multi-purpose contact lens solution: Proclear® (hydrogel) or Biofinity® (silicone hydrogel) and an adaptation schedule: fast (10 h wear from the first day) or gradual (4 h on the first day, increasing their wear time by 2 h on each subsequent day until they had reached 10 h). Masked investigators graded ocular surface physiology and non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT) and a range of comfort, vision and lens handling subjective ratings (0-100 visual analogue scales) were recorded at the baseline visit and after 10 h of lens wear, 4-6 days and 12-14 days after lens fitting. Subjective scores were also repeated after 7 days. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in ocular surface physiology or NIBUT between fast and gradual adaptation groups at any time point in either lens type with the exception of increased corneal staining (p = 0.019) in the silicone hydrogel fast adaptation group after 4-6 days, but was similar by 12-14 days. Subjective scores were also similar across the visits and lens types with the exception of 'lens awareness' (p = 0.019) which was less in the gradual versus the fast adaptation silicone hydrogel lens group at 12-14 days. There seems to be no clinical benefit for recommending a gradual adaptation period in new wearers fitted with modern soft reusable disposable contact lenses. The findings of this work add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that such advice is unnecessary in regular soft contact lens wear, which has important ramifications for the initial clinical management of these patients. === BUCCLE === The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 24 May 2022.