The Level Of UV Transmittance In Various UV Labeled, Disposable, Soft Contact Lenses.

With the recent evidence of acute and chronic ultraviolet radiation (UVR) effects on the eye, soft contact lens manufacturers have incorporated UV blockers into the lenses. This study will determine the percent transmittance ofUVR through seven disposable, soft spherical contact lenses designed with UV protection (UV-SCL). The Beckman DU 640 B spectrophotometer was used to measure the transmittance curves of the contact lenses within the radiation wavelengths of 270 to 500 nm. First, the percent of transmittance will be compared to lens power using -3.00 D, +3 .00 D, and +6.00 Din CooperVision, Ocular Science, Vistakon and Wesley-Jessen UV labeled lenses. Second, evaluation of UVR transmission curves between the seven UVSCLs will compare manufacturer claims and actual UV protective ability. Our results indicate that lens power and center thickness do not significantly effect UVR transmission through UV labeled SCLs. In conclusion, current UV -SCLs provide significant UVR protection in comparison to SCLs without this protection; yet do not achieve the complete protection to 400 nm that UV coated spectacle lenses achieve.