An evaluation of empirically fitting a posterior toric hydrogel contact lens.

The performance of toric hydrogel contact lenses fit without the use of diagnostic trial lenses was evaluated. Fifty-four patients (107 eyes) were empirically fit with a back surface toric lens (DuraSoft 3 Optifit Contact Lens), with the contact lens prescription based solely on keratometry and refractive findings. An assessment of lens performance was based on measures of lens movement and centration, visual acuity, lens rotation, rotational stability and patient acceptance of vision. Final mean lens rotation was found to be 1.43 degrees nasal (standard deviation 5.89 degrees), with 51 percent of the eyes exhibiting no lens rotation. Seventy-five percent of the eyes achieved acuity equal to that of their best corrected spectacle acuity, and 95 percent of the eyes achieved acuity equal to or within one line of their optimal spectacle corrected acuity. These results compare favorably to previously reported success rates of fitting toric hydrogel lenses using both empirical and diagnostic fitting procedures.