Comparison of the effects of first and second generation silicone hydrogel contact lens wear on tear film osmolarity

AIM: To compare the effects of first and second generation silicone hydrogel (SiH) contact lens wear on tear film osmolarity. METHODS: The healthy subjects who have never used contact lenses before were enrolled in the study. Tear film osmolarity values of 16 eyes (group 1) who wore first generation SiH contact lenses were compared with those of 18 eyes (group 2) who wore second generation SiH contact lenses after three months follow-up. RESULTS: Before contact lens wear, tear film osmolarity of groups 1 and 2 were 305.02 +/- 49.08 milliosmole (mOsm) and 284.66 +/- 30.18mOsm, respectively. After three months of contact lens wear, osmolarity values were found 317.74 +/- 60.23mOsm in group 1 and 298.40 +/- 37.77mOsm in group 2. Although osmolarity values for both groups of SiH contact lens wear after three months periods were slightly higher than before the contact lens wear, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Contact lens wear may cause evaporation from the tear film and can increase tear film osmolarity leading to symptoms of dry eye disease. In the current study, there is a tendency to increase tear film osmolarity for both groups of SiH contact lens wear, but the difference is not statistically significant.