To investigate the effect of the rewetting drop on optical quality, tear film stability and subjective symptoms in individuals wearing silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Pre-lens Tear Deformation Time (PL-TDT), Root-Mean-Square (RMS) of Low Order Aberrations (LOA) and High Order Aberrations (HOA), individual twelve Zernike coefficients and subjective symptoms were assessed in 43 volunteers (Mean age 19.58 ±1.63, 86 eyes) at 6 hours after inserting the contact lens and then at 60 min after instilling the rewetting drop (Comfort Drops, AVIZOR, Madrid-Spain).SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 16 was utilized for statistical analyses.

PL-TDT, LOA-RMS and HOA-RMS values measured before drop instillation were not significantly different with those measured after drop. None of the Zernike coefficients were significantly differ after rewetting drop instillation. Statistically significant decrement in both frequency and severity values of blurry vision, dryness, discomfort, burning, itching, foreign body sensation, excessive blinking and lacrimation were seen after drop instillation (P values <0.05).

Our results showed that the rewetting drop did not prolongedly improve the tear film stability and optical quality in the silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers, but they experience a subjective satisfaction.