The Impact of Daily and Monthly Contact Lenses on Dry Eye, Comfort and Beyond

PURPOSE: Investigating the effects of daily and monthly changes in dry eye parameters and comfort in patients using contact lenses for the first time.
METHODS: In this study, 33 myopic individuals intending to wear contact lenses were divided into two groups: one eye was assigned daily disposable lenses (Nesofilcon A, Bausch and Lomb Biotrue), and the contralateral eye was assigned monthly disposable lenses (Samfilcon A, Bausch and Lomb Ultra). After the initial evaluation, participants had a one-month follow-up. They were instructed to wear the lenses for 8 hours a day during the one month, with a 2-hour break on the morning of the follow-up. Various clinical measurements, including OSDI, hyperemia assessment, staining evaluation, TBUT measurement, Schirmer test, and TMH assessment using OCT, were conducted. Comfort was subjectively assessed with CLDEQ-8 at the one-month follow-up, and participants rated end-of-day comfort on a scale from 0 to 100. The study compared comfort levels and examination parameters between daily and monthly lens use.
RESULTS: In the one-month follow-up examination, there was no significant difference between eyes in terms of OSDI, hyperemia, ocular surface staining, TBUT, Schirmer test, and TMH (p>0.05). Contact lens comfort was higher in those using daily contact lenses when examined with CLDEQ-8 test (daily CL: 8.93, monthly CL: 4.29, p=0.04). However end-of-the day comfort was higher in monthly contact lens users (daily CL: 89, monthly CL: 95, p=0.04).
CONCLUSION: In the short term, monthly contact lens use was found to be more advantageous in terms of comfort compared to daily contact lens use. For patients starting to use contact lenses during the adaptation phase, monthly contact lens use may be preferred over daily use.