Impact of contact lens material and design on the ocular surface

Background: To evaluate the impact on the ocular surface of a daily disposable hydrogel contact lens with high water content compared with two silicone hydrogel daily disposable lenses of lower water content. Methods: The hydrogel lens assessed was made from nesofilcon A and the silicone hydrogel lenses were made of delefilcon A and stenfilcon A. Contact lens thickness was measured to assess material stability during daily wear, and ocular surface parameters such as tear film osmolarity, tear meniscus area and central corneal thickness were also assessed. Optical quality was analysed for all cases by means of wavefront aberrometry. Results: The nesofilcon A was shown to be the thinnest lens (p < 0.001), while no differences in lens thickness were found between the two silicone hydrogel lenses (p = 0.495). No significant differences were found in tear film osmolarity, tear meniscus area, central corneal thickness or corneal aberrations, either as a function of the lens measured or time of use (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In spite of having the thinnest lens and the highest water content, the hydrogel does not significantly impact on tear film and corneal swelling after one day of use in first-time wearers.