Advances in Contact Lens Design and Materials: Enhancing Comfort and Ocular Health

Abstract

Contact lenses represent one of the most widely used biomedical devices globally, with well over 140 million wearers correcting refractive errors and managing various ocular conditions. Over the past six decades, the field has undergone a remarkable transformation—from rigid poly (methyl methacrylate) lenses to sophisticated silicone hydrogel materials capable of delivering clinically adequate levels of oxygen to the corneal surface. This narrative review synthesises contemporary knowledge on advances in contact lens design and materials, with emphasis on the development of silicone hydrogel platforms, surface wettability and modification technologies, drug-eluting and smart lens systems, orthokeratology and myopia control, as well as emerging nanotechnology-enabled materials. The review traces the historical evolution of contact lens materials, critically examines the physicochemical properties that govern ocular compatibility and wearer comfort, and evaluates the clinical evidence underpinning current and next-generation lens technologies. Special attention is given to the intersection of materials science, ocular physiology, and digital health in shaping the future of wearable ophthalmic devices. Key challenges including lens-induced dry eye, mechanical complications from high-modulus silicone hydrogels, and regulatory hurdles for smart lens commercialisation are discussed. The review underscores that despite significant progress, optimising the balance between oxygen permeability, water content, modulus, wettability, and biocompatibility remains an active and clinically important area of research.