Effect of large diameter and plasma coating on the initial adaptation of gas permeable contact lens fitting for neophytes

Purpose To determine whether the adaption of neophytes to rigid gas permeable lenses (GPs) could be accelerated by changing their diameter or surface lubricity. Methods This was a 2 part prospective double-masked randomised wear study. An GP lens (Roflufocon D material, 9.6 mm diameter) with and without a Hydrapeg plasma coating surface was worn by 119 neophytes (21.1 ± 3.5 years; 77% female) on separate occasions. A further 114 neophytes (average age 20.1 ± 1.0 years; 72% female) wore the uncoated lens with a 9.6 mm diameter lens in one randomly allocated eye and 10.1 mm (n = 51) or 10.6 mm (n = 63) in the other with a basecurve compensation keeping the fit equivalent. Lens fit and corneal staining was assessed after 20 min, and comfort and bulbar redness were assessed at the time of lens application and after 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Participants also reported their ease of application and removal on a 5 point scale. Results Plasma coated GP lenses or increasing diameter did not improve comfort (p = 0.673, p > 0.05) or bulbar redness (p = 0.805, p > 0.05) during a 20 min adaptation period in neophytes. In both cohorts, comfort improved and bulbar redness reduced with time (p < 0.001). Corneal staining, ease of insertion application and ease of removal did not differ with GP coating application or GP diameter (p > 0.05). Conclusion Changing GP diameter or surface lubricity is not beneficial to the adaption of healthy neophytes