What is the predominant composition of the majority of continuous wear hydrophilic soft lenses?

The predominant composition of the majority of continuous wear hydrophilic soft lenses is silicone hydrogel. Silicone hydrogel materials are specifically designed to optimize oxygen permeability, which is crucial for extended wear contact lenses. These materials allow significantly more oxygen to reach the cornea than traditional hydrophilic soft lenses made from water-soluble polymers.

This increased oxygen transmission helps maintain corneal health during prolonged lens wear, reducing the risk of complications such as hypoxia-related ischemia and promoting overall comfort. The structure of silicone hydrogel combines both silicone, which has high oxygen permeability, and hydrophilic components to ensure moisture retention, making it suitable for daily wear and continuous wear applications.

In contrast, while other materials like plymethyl-methacrylate, fluorosilicone acrylate, and silicone acrylate have their uses in various types of lenses, they do not provide the same level of performance for continuous wear as silicone hydrogel does, particularly with regard to oxygen delivery and comfort over extended periods.