To eliminate silicone hydrogel edge fluting, which material property should be used?

Silicone hydrogel edge fluting generally refers to the phenomenon where the edges of contact lenses have a visible fluted appearance or may create discomfort during wear. To address this issue, selecting materials with lower water content can effectively minimize edge fluting.

Lower water content in a silicone hydrogel lens results in a firmer lens that maintains its shape better, especially at the edges. When the water content is reduced, the lens material becomes stiffer, which reduces the likelihood of the lens edges curling or becoming more pronounced. This, in turn, helps to create a more uniform edge profile and can improve overall comfort as well.

While other options such as plasma-treated surfaces, lower modulus, or higher Dk/t values have their own roles in lens performance, they do not directly address the specific issue of edge fluting in the same manner as reducing water content does. Thus, focusing on lower water content is the most effective approach to mitigate the phenomenon of edge fluting in silicone hydrogel lenses.