Pressure-sensitive lens tolerable and safe for 24 hours

A new pressure-sensitive contact lens is tolerable and safe over a 24-hour wearing period for healthy subjects and glaucoma sufferers, according to a paper in the Journal of Glaucoma.

Dr Katrin Lorenz et al., Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany, included 20 healthy subjects and 20 age-matched glaucoma patients in a prospective, single-centre, open, observational parallel group study.

The study incorporated the Sensimed Triggerfish Sensor, a soft disposable contact lens embedded with a telemetry chip and strain gauge sensor for continuous IOP monitoring. The sensor was implanted in one eye of each patient for 24 hours. A visual analogue scale was used to evaluate tolerability. The safety parameters included best-corrected visual acuity, pachymetry, epithelial defects, conjunctival erythema and corneal topography.

The 24-hour wearing period was completed by 19 healthy participants and 19 glaucoma patients. Pain or inappropriate fitting of the sensor contributed towards early discontinuation. Mean tolerability was 21.8 in the healthy group and 26.8 in the glaucoma group.

Corneal epithelial staining increased from 0.4 and 1.0 at baseline to 1.8 and 2.8 in the healthy and glaucoma groups, respectively. There were no statistically differences between the two groups, meaning they both had a similar safety and tolerability profiles.

To read the abstract please click here.