Silicone hydrogel daily disposable benefits: The evidence

Abstract

Daily disposable (DD) contact lenses first came to the market approximately 25 years ago and eye care professionals (ECPs) started prescribing silicone hydrogel (SiH) contact lenses, primarily for extended or continuous wear, approximately 20 years ago. It has now been over ten years since SiH DD contact lenses have been available, and while SiH materials are routinely prescribed by ECPs for reusable daily wear, hydrogel materials are still frequently selected for the DD modality of contact lens wear. This article reviews the evidence to support the benefits of both a DD modality and SiH materials and how patients' needs may be met with SiH DD contact lenses, with respect to clinical performance, health outcomes, satisfaction, compliance and convenience. Factors which may enable or constrain ECPs from prescribing SiH DD contact lenses, as opposed to hydrogel DD and reusable contact lenses, for more of their patients are discussed with the objective of providing ECPs with a greater understanding of the advantages that can be afforded by prescribing SiH DD contact lenses to both their new and existing contact lens wearers.

Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…As access to clinical care might continue to be limited over the coming months, ECPs are encouraged to review patient education on safe contact lens wear and care to minimise the chance of contact lens related complications. Daily disposables offer an advantage over reusable lenses in terms of non-compliance with cleaning and care procedures (relying on optimal handwashing only) [ [30] , [31] ]. Nagra et al [ 32 ] highlight that aftercare appointments had traditionally offered an ideal opportunity to assess contact lens compliance, but in the current times ECPs are encouraged to also use alternative ways (e.g.…”

“…As access to clinical care might continue to be limited over the coming months, ECPs are encouraged to review patient education on safe contact lens wear and care to minimise the chance of contact lens related complications. Daily disposables offer an advantage over reusable lenses in terms of noncompliance with cleaning and care procedures (relying on optimal handwashing only)[30][31].…”

<p>A Review of Contact Lens Dropout</p>

“…Daily disposable contact lenses have gained popularity since their inception because of the many benefits of a daily disposable contact lenses such as ease of use and increased compliance due to the limited need for contact lens care products like multipurpose solutions or cases. [31][32][33] Therefore, it seems prudent to investigate whether this simplified modality has influenced the frequency of contact lens dropout.…”

Letter to the Editor: “Silicone hydrogel daily disposable benefits: The evidence”

“…We read with great interest the publication 'Silicone hydrogel daily disposable benefits: The evidence' [1].…”

“…The study cited by the authors that shows similar comfort in SiHy DDs and hydrogel DDs includes etafilcon A, a hydrogel material that remains the number one daily disposable contact lens brand globally. 1 With the current research literature supporting little difference in comfort performance between SiHy DD and Hydrogel DD lenses, the authors refer to the results of a market research survey that reported ECP perceptions. The publication of this survey reported that ECPs believe that SiHy DDs are more comfortable [10], but the authors of this work acknowledged the survey questions were phrased with an emphasis on SiHy materials and their possible benefits over hydrogels and included the results for 'slight agreement' with the statement, so potentially increasing the percentages significantly as there was no neutral response in the questionnaire.…”