A Class I (Senofilcon A) Soft Contact Lens Prevents UVB-Induced Ocular Effects, Including Cataract, in the Rabbit In Vivo

METHODS. Eyes of rabbits were exposed to UVB light for 30 minutes (270 –360 nm, peak at 310 nm, 1.7 mW/cm 2 on the cornea). Eyes were irradiated in the presence of either a UVblocking senofilcon A contact lens, a minimally UV-blocking lotrafilcon A contact lens, or no contact lens at all. Effects on the cornea and lens were evaluated at various times after exposure. RESULTS. Eyes irradiated with no contact lens protection showed corneal epithelial cell loss plus lens epithelial cell swelling, vacuole formation, and DNA single-strand breaks, as well as lens anterior subcapsular opacification. The senofilcon A lens protected nearly completely against the UVB-induced effects, whereas the lotrafilcon A lens showed no protection. CONCLUSIONS. The results indicate that use of a senofilcon A contact lens is beneficial in protecting ocular tissues of the rabbit against the harmful effects of UVB light, including photokeratitis and cataract. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52: 3667–3675) DOI:10.1167/iovs.10-6885