Corneal and conjunctival epithelial staining in hydrogel contact lens wearers.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of conjunctival and corneal epithelial staining in soft contact lens wearers and to see if staining could be associated with factors such as type of lens worn, wearing time, care system, age, and sex. METHODS: The records of 338 adapted hydrogel contact lens wearers were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: Conjunctival staining was found to be present in 32.5% of the subjects and corneal staining was found to be present in 19.5% of subjects. None of the subjects had staining above grade 2 using the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit scale. Because of the low prevalence of staining, the low grading of staining found and the large variation in refractive power, lens type worn, wearing modality, and solution used statistical analysis for association between staining and different factors could only be performed for the association between sex and staining and between corneal and conjunctival staining. However, no statistical significant association could be demonstrated. DISCUSSION: Despite the low prevalence of staining the conjunctiva and cornea should be examined carefully in contact lens wearers and prospective wearers because the conjunctival and corneal epithelium serve as protective barriers for the underlying layers of the cornea and conjunctiva. To allow comparison of data obtained in different studies assessing corneal staining, it is recommended that clinicians develop and adopt a universal standard protocol for this measure.

Opaque contact lens color choices among women of different ethnic groups.

PURPOSE: The opaque contact lens (OCL) market is profitable and expanding. This pilot study sought to identify OCL color preferences among women of three ethnic groups, African American (A), white (W), and Hispanic Americans (H). METHODS: Sixty-three brown-eyed female subjects (19 A; 22 W; 22 H), 18 to 35 years of age, with uncorrected near visual accuity of at least 20/50 were recruited. Each subject was presented with OCLs of three different color pattern designs in each of four colors (blue, green, gray, and hazel). The subjects viewed their appearance in a mirror while wearing each lens. Once all lenses had been observed, the subjects chose their lens color preference. RESULTS: Using the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test, an ethnic preference was shown for all but the gray contact lenses. In group A 47.4% rated the hazel lens as their first choice whereas 0% chose the blue lens. In contrast, 45.5% of group C chose the blue lens over the other colors but did not favor the hazel lens, which was their first choice only 4.5% of the time. Group H demonstrated the most diversity in color preference, however, 36.4% chose green as their overall lenscolor preference. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct differences exist in OCL color preferences among the three ethnic groups studied. Improved understanding of this ethnic difference could increase the efficiency of the trial lens process while possibly decreasing inventory costs when one ethnic group dominates a practice patient base.