Lid massage and symptoms of dryness in soft contact lens wearers

Abstract

We have compared the efficacy of an in-eye lubricant and lid massage (gently massaging the surface of the lens through the upper lid) in a group of 13 soft lens wearers who regularly suffer from symptoms of dryness. Subjects used each technique for 1 week in a crossover study and recorded in a diary the symptoms experienced, duration of relief from symptoms, and improvement in vision, and, at the end of the study, they made a choice of preferred technique. Most subjects found longest relief from symptoms following use of the in-eye lubricant; however, the majority preferred to continue using the lid-massage technique alone or in combination with the in-eye lubricant. At a follow-up 1 year later, the majority of subjects continued to use lid massage to relieve dryness symptoms. We suggest that lid massage can provide a useful supplementary technique for many soft contact lens wearers who experience symptoms of dryness.
Author Keywords: Author Keywords: Dryness; contact lenses; lid massage; lens lubricants; tear