Hydration of hydrogel contact lenses during hydrogen peroxide disinfection.

Some hydrogel contact lenses are susceptible to changes in hydration when soaked in hydrogen peroxide solutions of acidic pH. This study uses a hand refractometer to assess the water content of four Hydrocurve Elite hydrogel contact lenses during prolonged hydrogen peroxide disinfection. A 3-week period of soaking in peroxide solution lead to a decrease in contact lens water content from 50% to approximately 30%. Full rehydration of the lenses occurred over a period of 2 days, using one rinse and two changes of the recommended sodium thiosulfate neutralizing solution.