Extended wear study finds low infection risk

Most complications associated with continual use of lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lenses occur during the initial three months of lens wear, according to a new study.

Researcher Peter Donsjik MD and his colleagues investigated the prevalence of ocular complications related to up to 30 days of continual use of lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses during a three-year clinical trial.

The study involved 19 sites and enrolled 317 subjects who were dispensed lotrafilcon A lenses with three years of follow-up.

Researchers found that by the one-month visit continuous wear of up to 30 nights was recommended for 87 per cent of subjects. They also identified 27 lens-related adverse events which occurred in 15 eyes in year one, seven eyes in year two, and five eyes in year three.