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Prescription agent improves patient comfort
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SAN FRANCISCO - An ocular therapeutic agent caused no change in visual acuity, no decrease in wear time and no visible lens soiling when used with lotrafilcon A contact lenses, according to a poster presented here at Academy 2010.
Seventeen subjects wearing lotrafilcon A lenses were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. The treatment group instilled FreshKote (polyvinyl pyrrolidone 2.0%, polyvinyl alcohol [87% hydrolyzed] 0.9%, polyvinyl alcohol [99% hydrolyzed] 1.8%, Amisol clear, Focus Labs) four times a day, and patients were sampled at baseline, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 7 days and 14 days, Daniel G. Fuller, OD, told PRIMARY CARE OPTOMETRY NEWS. Subjects completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire at enrollment and completion of the study.
The OSDI score after 14 days of use decreased from 17.70 to 10.22 for all subjects, but in dry eye patients specifically the OSDI score decreased from 32.43 to 16.6. The 5-minute noninvasive tear break-up time significantly increased from 7.0 seconds to 15.13 seconds, Dr. Fuller said. There was no statistically significant drop in visual acuity during the 2-week study, and patient comfort was improved.
"The big thing we were looking at is if it would soil contact lenses," co-author Charles G. Connor, PhD, OD, FAAO, told PCON. "We do know that when you first put it in and look at the tear break-up time change, it has a pretty substantial effect on the viscosity of the tears. But within 60 to 90 seconds, the blur disappears and patients have no problem."
Dr. Fuller told PCON that the researchers chose to study FreshKote in conjunction with lotrafilcon A because these contacts (CIBA Visions' Night & Day) are commonly used as bandage lenses, and FreshKote is often prescribed for the same conditions.