Soft Contact Lens Effect on Intraocular Pressure Measurement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1022-6174Keywords:
Soft Contact Lenses, Intraocular Pressure, Applanation Tonometry, Non-Contact TonometryAbstract
Soft contact lenses (SCLs) are utilized for therapeutic purposes and correction of refractive errors. Where SCLs removal is not ideal and routine intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements are required, the need may arise for IOP measurements to be done with SCLs in situ. The aim of this study was to determine soft contact lenses effect on IOP measurement. 42 subjects with mean age of 22.56 ±2.83 were included in the study. Baseline IOP was taken in right eye (OD), first with a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and then with the Keeler non-contact tonometer (NCT). The 42 subjects were then grouped into 7, each group comprised 6 subjects each group wore 0.00D, +3.00DS, +6.00DS, +9.00DS, -3.00DS, -6.00DS and -9.00DS Opticom SCLs on their OD. IOP was measured with NCT after 30 minutes of wearing these SCLs over the cornea of the OD. The IOP of the naked left eyes of the 42 subjects was also measured with NCT after 30 minutes. This served as an internal control. The data obtained were analysed. Results showed no statistical difference between the baseline mean values of IOP measured with NCT and GAT. The IOP values were significantly greater (p =0.007; p=0.000) for the groups with plus SCL powers of +6.00D and +9.00D respectively and significantly reduced (p =0.019; p=0.005) for the groups with minus SCL powers of -6.00D and -9.00D of Opticom SCLs respectively.
References
Allen, R.J., Dev-Borman, A., Saleh, G.M. (2007). Applanation tonometry in silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 30 (5): 267-269.
Anton, A., Neuburger, M., Böhringer, D., & Jordan, J. F. (2013). Comparative measurement of intraocular pressure by Icare tonometry and Airpuff tonometry in healthy subjects and patients wearing therapeutic soft contact lenses. Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 251(7): 1791–1795.
Lin, C.W., Wang, J. J., Lai, C. H., Chen, C. Y., & Lai, I. C. (2023). Assessing Agreement and Variability among Alternative Devices for Intraocular Pressure Measurement: A Comparative Study. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 17:3453–3461.
Cordeiro, M.F., Birt, C.M., Dias, J.A. Tatham. A. J. (2026). Challenges and Unmet Needs in the Diagnosis and Management of Glaucoma: Recommendations for Future Research and Practice. Current Ophthalmology Repots, 14:5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40135-025-00344-7.
Erdogan, H., Akingol, Z., Cam, O., & Sencan, S. (2018). A comparison of NCT, Goldman application tonometry values with and without fluorescein. Clinical Ophthalmology, 12: 2183–2188.
Bozgül, P., Cankaya, C., Doganay, S., Cavdar, M., Duman, S., Ozsoy, E., & Koc, B. (2012). The influence of soft contact lenses on the intraocular pressure measurement. Eye (London, England), 26(2): 278–282.
Lim L, Lim E.W.L. (2020). Therapeutic contact lenses in the treatment of corneal and ocular surface diseases—A review. Asia-Pacific journal of ophthalmology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 9(6):524-532.
Liu, Y.C., Huang, J.Y., Wang, M.D., Jong, F.R., and Hou, Y.C. (2011). Intraocular pressure measurement with the non-contact tonometer through soft Contact lenses. Journal of Glaucoma, 20(3): 179-182.
Ogbuehi, K.C. (2012). The influence of lens power and centre thickness on the intraocular pressure measured through soft lenses: A comparison of two non-contact tonometers. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 35(3): 118-128.
Onigbara, V. B., Agu, S. I., & Gbenle, M. A. (2026). Metal-based biomaterials for clinical implant applications: Materials and performance – A review. FUDMA Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2(1), 389–394. fudutsinma.edu.ng
Patel, S., and Illahi, W. (2004). Non-contact tonometry over soft contact lenses: effect of contact lens power on the measurement of intra-ocular pressure. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 27(1):33-37.
Seol B.R, Kang T.G, Gu B (2019) intraocular pressure according to different types of tonometry (non-contact and Goldmann applanation) in patients with different degrees of bilateral tearing. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0222652. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222652
Takenaka, J., Kunihara, E., Rimayanti, U., Tanaka, J., Kaneko, M., & Kiuchi, Y. (2015). Intraocular pressure readings obtained through soft contact lenses using four types of tonometer. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 9: 1875–1881.
Wang, Y., & Jacobs, D. S. (2022). Role of therapeutic contact lenses in management of corneal disease. Current opinion in ophthalmology, 33(4): 306–310.
Zeri, F., Cusatis, M.D., Lupelli, L., and Swann, P.G. (2016). The measurement of intraocular pressure over positive soft contact lenses by rebound tonometry. Journal of Optometry, 9(3): 182-188.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ayishetu Oshoke Shuaibu, Kingsley Nosayaba Bazuaye, Beulah Motilayo George
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
