Silicone hydrogels are a revolutionary class of highly oxygen permeable contact lens materials which evolved in response to the known hypoxic consequences of wearing low Dk hydrogels on an extended wear basis. These materials will be described in detail in a feature article on this website, but in essence the materials contain both silicone and hydrogel polymers in a structure which allows the transmission of oxygen and fluid essential for ocular health. The lens behaves similarly to other soft lenses, and provides similar levels of comfort for patients, but with the added convenience of extended wear.

The purpose of this website is to make accessible to you the information that has been published by our own groups and others in various forms. Each month we will feature editorial articles, starting with one by Professor Brien Holden on Where We Are with extended wear, and "Getting An Attitude" towards these new lenses. Future topics will include: how to use these lenses in practice; common adverse events observed with these lenses and the strategies to manage them; the physico/chemical properties of the materials and how they work; and the clinical trial results of silicone hydrogels compared to low Dk hydrogels.

Within the site you can access the Research Library, which contains a glossary of terms, current publications which may include abstracts (depending on availability), full text articles and posters from our respective institutions. We also invite you to ask questions to our panel of experts in the FAQ section. We have included links to other relevant sites, and some optional surveys which will help us tailor the site to your needs.

I hope this website helps you, and we welcome comments on the site and the information it presents. Enjoy!

Desmond Fonn