Dehydration kinetics of soft contact lenses: The hidden impact of early wear
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In contact lens (CL) wear, maintaining adequate CL hydration is essential to prevent ocular dryness and associated discomfort. In this context, dehydration of worn Etafilcon A and Kalifilcon A CLs hydrated by natural tears was monitored using an in-vitro gravimetric method. A kinetic model was applied to derive the water kinetics coefficient, which emerged as a reliable indicator of the on-eye hydration state and water diffusion mechanisms. A significant reduction in water content and a tendency from a polymer-hindered water diffusion toward free diffusion were observed after just five minutes of wear, suggesting a rapid initial adaptation to the ocular environment that alters the material resistance to water evaporation. After two hours of wear, a similar effect was evident in approximately half of the samples investigated, indicating that a new hydration equilibrium may eventually be reached over time.
Source: Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
Institution: University of Milano-Bicocca
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,740
OpenAlex ID: W4414168563