The prevalence of patient-reported scleral lens midday fogging is similar to previously reported rates, a recent study suggests. As far as risk factors go, the study notes that no specific lens design or care product is associated with midday fogging.

This multicenter, cross-sectional study evaluated the results of an electronic survey distributed to scleral lens practitioners. The survey asked them to describe their most recent established scleral lens patient. Responses provided data about patient-reported midday fogging, patient demographics, lens wear indications, lens wear schedule, lens design and care products.

Of the 248 survey respondents, the researchers found that 25.8% had patients who self-reported midday fogging. They noted that this phenomenon was not associated with patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity), indications for scleral lens wear, lens diameter, haptic design, use of a daily cleaner, disinfection/storage solution or filling solution. They added that patients who reported midday fogging more commonly reported redness or irritation associated with scleral lens wear.

“If inflammatory mediators are elevated in the post-lens fluid reservoir of patients with midday fogging, as previously described, the redness or irritation associated with scleral lens wear suggests that ocular surface inflammation may be contributing to this phenomenon,” the study authors concluded in their paper.