Study: coefficient of friction of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, Acuvue Oasys comparable to human cornea

Birmingham, UK-According to research presented at the 2014 British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference, found the coefficient of friction of the 1-Day Acuvue TruEeye and Acuvue Oasys brand contact lenses were comparable to that of the human cornea.  

The study tested the coefficient of friction on 1-Day Acuvue TruEeye silicone hydrogel (narafilcon A) and Acuvue Oasys silicone hydrogel (narafilcon A) directly out of the package using a micro-tribometer in a tear-like fluid with phosphate buffer saline. The applied normal force varied between 0.25 and 4.0 mN with a measured stroke length of 1.0 mm at normal blink speed of 0.1 mm per second. A mucin-coated glass disc was used as counter surface mimicking the inner eyelid. A simulated aged cycling (18-hour) of the contact lenses was also completed using the same measurement methodology. The results were compared to the coefficient of friction of human corneal tissue recently published using the same methodology, and statistical analysis was conducted using an analysis of variance.

According to the study, “the 1-Day Acuvue TruEye LS mean (SD) 0-hour CoF was 0.0080 (0.001140) (N=13) and 0.0098 (0.002055) at 18-hour (N=4). Acuvue Oasys LS mean (SD) 0-hour CoF was 0.0104 (0.001300) (N=10) and 0.0116 (0.001300) at 18-hour (N=10). The CoF of human corneal tissue is 0.0153 (0.002974).”

“This is important because coefficient of friction has previously been shown to be one factor highly correlated with contact lens comfort. 1-Day Acuvue TruEye and Acuvue Oasys seem to mimic corneal properties that may help address end-of-day comfort for many of our patients,” says Tawnya Wilson, OD, principal research optometrist at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.

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