TORIC SOFT CONTACT LENSES FOR ASTIGMATISM

Author : Irina Velcea, MD Bucharest

Introduction
Studies show that about 15% of adult population have astigmatism > 1 D and only 2% have astigmatism >3 D while the incidence of astigmatism in childhood is greater. Almost all of them can have an alternative to the glasses : toric soft contact lenses.

Objective

- to present the experience in prescribing toric soft contact lenses in our clinic ; - to realize a comparative study between two soft toric contact lenses .

Material and methods

- we considered a group of 35 new cases who were fitted between September 2006 August 2007; - the toric lenses used were : Pure Vision Toric and Soflens 66 Toric

Lens presentation :
Material

PureVision Toric
silicone-hydrogel (Balafilcon A)

SofLens Toric
hidrogel (Alphafilcon A) 66.00%

Water content

36.00%

91 Dk/t BC Diameter 8.7 mm 14 mm + 6.00 D - 6.00 D ( 0.25 D step ) Sferical Diopters - 6.50 D la - 9.00 D

16

8.5 mm 14.5 mm + 6.00 D la - 6.00 D ( 0.25 D step ) - 6.50 D la - 9.00 D

( 0.50 D step)
Cylinders - 0.75 D, -1.25 D, -1.75 D, -2.25 D

( 0.50 D step )
- 0.75 D, -1.25 D, -1.75 D, - 2.25 D - 2.75 D

The trial group distribution by gender

The trial group distribution by age

The trial group distribution by refractive errors

The trial group distribution by the amount of astigmatism

The trial group distribution by associated ocular diseases

The trial group distribution by lens type

The trial group distribution by lens type / amount of astigmatism

ELECTION CRITERIA
Corneal parameters Patients age The size of astigmatism The comfort in first few minutes The lens behavior on the eye Patients compliance after 2 weeks of wearing Costs and presentation

The election criteria corneal parameters

BC Corneal diameters BUT Schirmer test

The election criteria the comfort in first few minutes

- to judge the subjective reaction to the lens in the first 15 30 minutes
Comfort Ratings & Preference

Comfort

85 81.7

50

60

70 PVT

80 66T

90

100

The election criteria the lens behavior on the eye

The lens on the cornea - central location - motility - rotation - local irritation

The election criteria patients compliance after 2 weeks of wearing

Visual acuity evaluation Lens fitting evaluation Lens exam to observe deposits Corneal and eyelid slit-lamp examination

RESULTS
Rotational stability : equal or even greater with Pure Vision Toric than with Soflens 66 Toric ; Visual acuity : equal or even greater with Pure Vision Toric than with Soflens 66 Toric ; The initial comfort was greater with Soflens 66 Toric, but equal after 2 weeks ; The physiological response to extended wearing was better with Pure Vision Toric .

CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of toric silicone hydrogel contact lenses provide the practitioners the opportunity to change conventional toric lenses to a newer material / design technology. Their high levels of oxygen transmissibility ensure their future. The toric hydrogel lenses are still an important option in high astigmatism correction.

CONCLUSIONS
Lens design and material properties can influence fitting characteristics and vision. Clinicians should remember some of the differences between materials in order to manage their patients appropriately.