Adverse events and discontinuations during 18 months of silicone hydrogel contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: To report differences in the incidence of adverse events and discontinuations found in a group of neophyte contact wearers using two different silicone hydrogel contact lenses on a daily- and continuous-wear basis during an 18-month period.

METHODS: Sixty-one subjects were initially examined, and 53 were eligible to participate in the study. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to wear one of two silicone hydrogel materials: lotrafilcon A or balafilcon A lenses on a daily- or continuous-wear basis. After an initial screening, subjects were monitored weekly for the first month and then after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The incidence of adverse events, including corneal infiltrative events, superior epithelial arcuate lesions, and contact lens-induced papillary conjunctivitis, and discontinuations in each of the four contact lens groups were recorded.

RESULTS: Twenty-two adverse events were found. A higher incidence of adverse events was found in subjects wearing lotrafilcon A lenses than in those wearing balafilcon A lenses (chi(2) = 4.40, P=0.04). There were fewer adverse events in subjects wearing lenses on a daily-wear basis than in those wearing lenses on a continuous-wear basis (chi(2) = 5.98, P=0.01). Eight subjects discontinued from the study as a result of recurrent corneal infiltrative events (one), vision problems (two), excessive ocular discomfort (one), relocation (one), noncompliance with the study protocol (one), and being lost to follow-up (two). No significant differences were found in the number of discontinuations between the two lens types (chi(2) = 0.66, P=0.42) and wearing regimens (chi(2) = 0.08, P=0.78).

CONCLUSIONS: Lotrafilcon A lenses were associated with a higher incidence of adverse events than balafilcon A lenses were, and this difference is attributed to the difference in the incidence of corneal infiltrative events. Subjects wearing lenses on a daily-wear basis had fewer adverse events than did subjects wearing lenses on a continuous-wear basis. Both lens types and wearing regimens showed a similar incidence of discontinuations.