In-vitro dewetting properties of planned replacement and daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Aim: To compare the in-vitro videokeratoscopic surface dewetting properties of new-generation silicone hydrogel (SiH) planned replacement contact lenses (CL) with those of daily disposable CLs.

Method: A chrome coated cornea model was used for the in-vitro evaluation of surface dewetting. Pre-lens and post-lens film layers were formed by instilling a normal preservative-free normal saline solution (PFNs) (0.9 %) before and after the placement of the CL on the model cornea. The tests were carried out on fanfilcon A, lotrafilcon B, samfilcon A, and senofilcon A lenses, as well as such daily disposable lenses as delefilcon, nesofilcon A and senofilcon one day. Using videokeratoscopic methods, images were obtained at 30-second intervals up to 180 s in the lens and control groups and were analyzed by the ImajeJ® program.

Results: The mean measured area of the keratoscopic rings was largest in the fanfilcon group (67.56 mm), followed by 61.53 mm in the lotrafilcon A group and 64.60 mm in the samfilcon group, while the smallest area was measured in the senofilcon A group, at 56.90 mm. The area was measured as 64.33, 63.09 and 68.39 mm for the delefilcon, nesofilcon and Senofilcon one day CLs, respectively. The dewetting patterns and properties differed in the CL groups (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found between the measured areas of the planned replacement and daily disposable CL groups (p > 0.05).

Discussion: Videokeratoscopy using in-vitro cornea models has been identified as a reproducible and reliable method for the analysis of the surface dewetting of CLs. The dewetting characteristics of CL groups have been found to differ from each other, despite all being produced from SiH materials. The surface wetting coating has been shown to affect CL dewetting performance.