Publications by authors named "Gillian F Howarth"
Purpose: To evaluate lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) in soft contact lens (SCL) wearers on initial presentation and after using various SCL and solution combinations.
Methods: LWE was assessed in 253 habitual SCL wearers who attended a screening visit at one of three study sites. LWE was assessed using lissamine green and sodium fluorescein dyes (Korb scale); a final LWE grade was calculated as the averaged LWE grade of the two dyes.
Purpose: To compare clinical and subjective quality-of-life (QoL) data for teenagers wearing daily disposable contact lenses or spectacles.
Methods: This open-label study randomized subjects (aged 13 to 19 years) with no previous contact lens wear experience to nelfilcon A (DAILIES AquaComfort Plus) contact lenses or spectacles for 6 months. A full clinical workup, as well as subjective QoL measures using the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile and Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction questionnaires, was conducted at baseline and at week 4 and months 3 and 6, with an additional study visit at week 2 for subjects randomized to wear contact lenses.