• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2011

Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate the actual condition of circle lens wear and the differences caused by the pigmentation in blinking rate, non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), and lens surface between circle and soft contact lens wear during clinical application. Methods: Eighty subjects were surveyed to know the actual condition of wearing circle lens. Blink rate, NIBUT of 20 subjects in twenties were measured after separately wearing soft contact lens and circle lens for 5 days. Their lens surfaces were also observed by scanning electron microscope. Results: Fifty percent of circle lens wearers answered that major reason for changing circle lens was discomfort and 67% of answerers wore circle lens more than 6 hours a day. The tendency of increased blink rates in both wearers of circle and soft contact lens at 30 minutes later when tear film stabilized and 3 hour after lens wearing was shown on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day with expanding wearing time. Especially at 3 hours after lens wearing on the 3rd and 5th day, the difference of blink rates was statistically different in circle lens wear and soft contact lens wear. The NIBUTs of soft contact lens wearers and circle lens wearers were 6.0 and 3.7 secs, respectively, at 30 min later on 1st day and were significantly different. NIBUTs of soft contact lens wearers and circle lens wearers were also statistically different 3 hrs after lens wearing on the 1st day and the similar pattern of NIBUTs was shown on the 3rd and 5th day. The roughness of both surfaces in soft contact lens and front surface in circle lens was same. However, pigmented front surface of circle lens was rougher and uneven. Conclusions: As the results, the circle lens wearers might feel discomfort in clinical application since the difference in lens surface of circle lens would change lens wettability during wearing. The difference by tinting contact lens was shown from the result, which could help better wearing circle lens.