About one-quarter of daily disposable soft lens fits worldwide still use traditional hydrogel materials even though silicone hydrogel dominates new fits. A CooperVision-funded study summarized by Healio asked what happens when experienced hydrogel wearers try a modern silicone hydrogel daily lens for one to two weeks.
Who was studied
Researchers enrolled 182 habitual daily disposable hydrogel wearers at 16 U.S. practices. Participants had worn their hydrogels for an average of 6.69 years—people already adapted, not unhappy dropouts. They rated comfort, vision, dryness, and satisfaction, then were fitted with MyDay (stenfilcon A) silicone hydrogel lenses and rated again.
What improved
- On 10-point scales, initial comfort rose from 6.96 to 8.05.
- All-day comfort rose from 6.52 to 7.98.
- End-of-day comfort rose from 5.84 to 7.82.
- Sixty-eight percent reported less contact-lens-related dryness.
- Nearly all achieved an acceptable fit; 73% said they were interested in purchasing the silicone hydrogel lenses.
Jennifer Palombi, OD, FAAO, noted that oxygen transmission plus modern wettability address many earlier silicone hydrogel complaints. The study was industry-funded, so independent confirmation always helps, but the directional comfort signal in already-successful wearers is clinically useful.
Why oxygen still matters for daily disposables
Even lenses thrown away each night sit on the cornea for many waking hours. Higher oxygen transmissibility does not automatically fix every discomfort complaint, but it removes one common stressor—especially for people who already notice redness after long computer days. A supervised refit also lets the fitter check edge design and base curve, which often drive comfort as much as the polymer family.
Practical advice before you switch
- Ask for a supervised refit rather than ordering a new material online.
- Mention end-of-day dryness, redness, or fluctuating clarity—those drive material choice.
- Keep case hygiene and replacement schedules; a better material does not fix poor habits.
- Seek care for pain, light sensitivity, or sudden fogging that does not clear with a fresh lens.
Surface comfort also matters before any laser vision discussion. For more regional eye-health reading, browse agourahillslasik.com.
Source: Study: Switching to silicone hydrogel contact lenses led to better comfort, less dryness (Healio Optometry (CooperVision / Optom Vis Sci data), 09/24/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.