AOA 2025: Performance of a multipurpose contact lens solution in excessive wearers

The key ingredients in the formulation include moisturizers (hyaluronan, poloaxime 1107, and poloxamer 181), the electrolyte potassium, and an osmoprotectant/antioxidant (erythritol).

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A new study found that contact lens users who wear their lenses extensively and engage in substantial use of digital devices expressed “high levels of satisfaction” with Biotrue Hydration Plus Multipurpose Solution (Bausch + Lomb), which they described as gentle and maintained comfort all day, Mark Schaeffer, OD, reported. He practices in Birmingham, Alabama. He presented his experience with the contact lens solution at the 128th Annual 2025 American Optometric Association Congress, Optometry's Meeting, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“Tear film changes during contact lens wear can lead to contact lens dryness and discomfort, which is a primary reason why many contact lens wearers abandon contact lens wear. The correct choice of a contact lens solution is an important part of a comprehensive approach to ensuring comfortable and continued contact lens wear,^1,2” he explained.

The key ingredients in the formulation include moisturizers (hyaluronan, poloxamine 1107, and poloxamer 181), the electrolyte potassium, and an osmoprotectant/antioxidant (erythritol),^3,4 Schaeffer explained.

The formulation was designed to condition, clean, and disinfect contact lenses and support/maintain the tear film with the goal of improving comfort.

He reported that in studies, the hyaluronan in Biotrue Hydration Plus Multipurpose Solution was retained on silicone hydrogel contact lenses and conventional contact lenses and was released over time for up to 20 hours.⁵

Study design and results

He designed a real-world study to assess the performance of Biotrue Hydration Plus Multipurpose Solution use by patients who wear contact lenses for an excessively long time during the day.

The patients in the study wore their lenses for 10 or more hours daily. All were regular wearers of soft contact lenses and had undergone an ocular examination within the previous 2 years.

The greatest complaint reported by 66.3% of contact lens wearers before the study was contact lens dryness, followed by tired eyes in 61.0%, eye strain in 42.7%, blurry/fluctuating vision in 41.9%, and halos or glare in 23.8%.

The study participants were instructed to use Biotrue Hydration Plus Multipurpose Solution with a new pair of contact lenses for 7 days and then complete an online survey to record the solution's performance.

A total of 344 patients participated in the study.

The findings showed that the average daily contact lens wear was 13.2 hours. The average daily time that patients wore contact lenses while using electronic devices that included computers, smartphones, and tablets was 7.7 hours. In addition, 70.3% of patients wore their contact lenses 7 days a week, and 65.7% of patients had worn contact lenses for more than 10 years, Schaeffer reported.

A high percentage of patients, 98.5%, reported overall satisfaction with the formulation; 96.2% described that the formulation was gentle on their eyes; and 95.9% said the formulation kept their contact lenses clean even after a week of wear.

A deeper dive into the data showed that 93.9% reported that the solution maintained contact lens comfort during the day; 92.2% believed each of the following: that the solution prevented drying of the contact lens, the contact lenses remained comfortable and the eyes were not tired, and the contact lenses remained comfortable even at the end of the day; 92.4% would likely recommend the solution to family member or friend.

The big takeaway from the study was that the patients who wear contact lenses for 10 or more hours daily had a positive contact lens wear experience using this new contact lens formulation, according to Schaeffer.

He concluded, “This large cohort of excessive contact lens wearers with substantial daily digital device use reported high levels of overall satisfaction with Biotrue Hydration Plus Multipurpose Solution. The patients agreed that the solution is gentle, maintained their comfort level throughout the day, and prevented contact lens dryness. Almost all of the study participants would recommend the solution to other contact lens wearers.”

Mark Schaeffer, OD, is a consultant to Allergan, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, Harrow, LENZ, Orasis, Sight Sciences, ScienceBased Health, Tarsus, and Zeiss. Bausch + Lomb funded the study under discussion.

References

1. Jones L, Efron N, Bandamwar K, et al. TFOS lifestyle: impact of contact lenses on the ocular surface. Ocul Surf. 2003;29:175-219.
2. Pucker AD, Tichenor AA. A review of contact lens dropout. Clin Optom (Aukl). 2020;12:85-94.
3. Biotrue Hydration Plus multipurpose solution package insert. Bausch + Lomb. Accessed June 24, 2025. https://pi.bausch.com/globalassets/pdf/packageinserts/vision-care/biotrue-hydration-plus-package-insert.pdf
4. Biotrue Hydration Plus contact lens solution. Bausch + Lomb. Accessed June 24, 2025. https://www.biotrue.com/products/hydration-plus-contact-solution/
5. Scheuer C, et al. Poster presented at the AOA meeting, June 15-18, 2022, Chicago.