Introduction:

Multipurpose solutions (MPS) for soft contact lenses (SCL) play an essential role in inhibiting potentially pathogenic agents. Their antimicrobial effectiveness is assessed in vitro and their safety in vivo, with clinical trials that include a combination of different solutions and lens materials. The objective is to assess the biocompatibility of a new SCL MPS produced in Colombia that contains polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and to determine its antimicrobial activity.

Materials and Methods:

This was a crossover study with 25 subjects who did not wear lens and who were fitted with different combinations of five SCL materials with either MPS or control physiological saline solution (CS). Corneal thickness, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal staining, and comfort were assessed after two hours of wearing SCL. Antimicrobial effectiveness was measured using ISO 14729 standard assays.

Results:

When considering SCL material, there was a statistically significant difference between the new MPS and the CS for Comfilcon A (p < 0.05). There was no statistical or clinically significant difference for corneal thickness or corneal staining between the combination of lens material and new MPS with the CS (p > 0.05). After two hours of lens insertion, comfort scores were higher than 7.8. The MPS reduced bacteria colony forming units (CFU) in over 3 log, and fungal CFU in over 1.0 log.

Conclusions:

The new MPS met the antimicrobial standards of ISO 14729, is considered safe and biocompatible with the ocular surface and retains high comfort levels.

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