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Xiidra improved comfort in contact lens wearers with no complaints
CHICAGO – Subjects who comfortably wore monthly silicone hydrogel lenses reported improvements in a contact lens symptom questionnaire after 8 weeks of Xiidra treatment, according to a poster presented here at the American Academy of Optometry meeting.
Agustin L. Gonzalez, OD, FAAO, and colleagues evaluated 14 subjects who were an average of 30 years old and wore a monthly disposable silicone hydrogel, Bausch + Lomb Ultra (samfilcon A) using the eight-question Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ-8).
These subjects initially reported no discomfort with the lens and “very good” to “excellent” contact lens symptom scores on the CLDEQ-8. They were also tested for best corrected visual acuity and corneal/conjunctival lissamine staining.
After 8 weeks of treatment with Xiidra (lifitegrast 5%, Shire), patients were re-evaluated. Researchers saw a statistically significant reduction in total CLDEQ-8 score and, specifically, in questions about ocular comfort and dryness. They saw a non-statistically significant reduction in questions regarding blurry vision and wishing to close the eyes or remove the contacts due to discomfort.
In addition, a non-statistically significant change was seen in best corrected visual acuity and lissamine staining, according to the poster.
“The biggest takeaway is the fact that clinicians have understood for many years that anything that influences the environment in which the contact lens performs could actually improve the performance of the contact lens,” Gonzalez, a Primary Care Optometry News Editorial Board Member, said in an interview. “I believe this is not a new concept, but the use of Xiidra in contact lens comfort might just be something to look into.”
While clinicians are well aware that improving symptoms of dryness would improve wearing sensation and end-of-day comfort, Gonzalez said it is worth noting that this is important for patient retention.
He said the subjects’ baseline scores on the CLDEQ-8 were “fascinating.”
“These patients were using a very low modulus, high oxygen, high water retention contact lens designed to be comfortable and retain moisture,” Gonzalez said. “By these metrics you would assume they had little to no problem with wearing their contacts. Yet they showed improvement in end-of-day comfort. This tends to suggest something we know, that contact lens patients normalize suboptimal results and comfort.” – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Reference:
Gonzalez AL, et al. End-of-day contact lens discomfort as measured by CLDEQ-8 in patients using lifitegrast 5% ophthalmic solution. Presented at: American Academy of Optometry; Chicago; Oct. 10-14, 2017.
Disclosure: Gonzalez reports he is a consultant for Bausch + Lomb Vision Care and Shire.