Clinical Performance of Samfilcon A Contact Lenses in Intensive Digital Device Users: A Multicenter, Prospective Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate patient satisfaction with samfilcon A contact lenses (CLs) in intensive digital device users with myopia and to compare patient satisfaction with samfilcon A lenses to prior experience with senofilcon A or lotrafilcon B CLs. METHODS: This was a comparative, prospective, national study conducted at 14 centers in Turkey. Subjects were adults aged 18 and 45 years with myopia (range -0.25 D to -6.00 D) who spend a minimum of 3 hours viewing digital devices (e.g., computer, smartphone). A subgroup of patients were habitual lens wearers (senofilcon A or lotrafilcon B lens wear for at least 6 months prior to enrollment). The primary assessment was patient satisfaction with samfilcon A lenses (0-100 Likert scale). Secondary assessments included patient satisfaction with samfilcon A lenses compared to patients' habitual lenses, investigator satisfaction with samfilcon A lenses and investigator-evaluated slit lamp examination findings. RESULTS: Samfilcon A lenses were given high overall ratings from both patients and investigators, with a low incidence of ocular symptoms. Overall, patients were highly satisfied with samfilcon A lenses for comfort, vision and overall performance, and stated that they would consider wearing these lenses in the future. Among habitual senofilcon A or lotrafilcon B lens wearers, samfilcon A lenses were rated significantly better than the habitual lenses in regard to comfort, vision and overall performance. Investigator assessments were also highly favorable, both at initial fit and after 4 weeks of follow-up, with no significant findings noted on slit lamp examination. CONCLUSION: Samfilcon A lenses were rated highly by investigators in regard to fit, handling and slit lamp findings, and by novice and habitual lens wearers in regard to comfort, vision and overall performance. These results support the use of samfilcon A lenses among digital device users who seek day-long comfort and good visual acuity.

Changes in Limbal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Outcomes in Patients With Overnight Contact Lens Wear.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the perilimbal vasculature of patients who wear contact lenses (CLs) overnight with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compare the results with healthy population. METHODS: Forty-two patients were included in this observational study. The OCTA imaging was performed in the temporal quadrant of the perilimbal region using a swept-source optical coherence tomography system (Triton DRI-OCT; Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The assessments were made in two depths: starting from the conjunctival epithelium to 200 µm scleral depth and the scleral depth between 200 and 1,000 µm. The vessel density, vessel length density, vessel diameter index, and fractal dimension were the main outcomes and compared between overnight CL users and healthy population. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients who have been using CLs overnight for at least 3 months and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. The vessel density at the superficial layer was significantly higher in the CL group compared with the control group (P<0.001). Vessel diameter index, vessel length density, and fractal dimension at the superficial layer did not differ between the groups (P>0.05 for all). There was no difference in the vessel density, vessel diameter index, vessel length density, and fractal dimension in the deep layer between the groups (P>0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who use CL overnight exhibit increased vessel density in the superficial layers of the perilimbal region, which may suggest new vessel formation in the conjunctiva. Anterior segment OCTA may be useful to evaluate the initial changes in limbal vasculature in CL users.

Evaluation of the Cataract Surgery 2018 Survey in Terms of Achieving Refractive Cataract Surgery Targets.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to show at what rate the technological equipment used in cataract surgery by Turkish ophthalmologists and their knowledge are reflected in practice and how up to date they are. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire conducted using SurveyMonkey was used to evaluate the answers to 17 questions from 823 members of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association. Results were evaluated in subgroups according to the participants' age, occupational status, institutions, and whether they conducted relevant academic activities, and the data were compared as inadequate, standard, and contemporary approaches according to the determined criteria. Results: Optical biometry devices were used at rates of 77.7% and 67.3% for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations and keratometric measurements in preparation for cataract surgery, respectively. For IOL power calculation, third-generation formulas, especially the SRK-T, were used most commonly (46.2%), followed by second-generation formulas (21.9%), and fourth/fifth-generation formulas and multiple evaluations for different axial lengths (31.9%). The most common incision size was 2.8 mm (51.6%), while the percentage of 2.2 mm and shorter incisions considered to be neutral in terms of surgically induced astigmatism was 18.8%. When selecting incision location, approaches to reduce corneal astigmatism were reported by 28.9%, neutral approaches by 26.2%, and insensitive approaches by 44.9%. Additionally, 55.6% of participants never implanted toric IOLs and 50.7% did not use presbyopia-correcting IOLs. The proportion of surgeons who have experience with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery was 10.3% and the rate of intracameral antibiotic injection at the end of the operation was 89.4%. Conclusion: It was seen that Turkish cataract surgeons were able to use high technology for surgical preparation and surgery at high rates, but this was not reflected in practice at same rate in terms of achieving contemporary standards of refractive cataract surgery.