Abstract
Purpose :
Contact lenses (CLs) in Greece are widely promoted via Optician-Optometrists-Contact Lens practitioners (OOCLP) and Ophthalmologists (OPH). A pilot cross-sectional study was performed aiming primarily to evaluate the performance of monthly replacement CLs. Secondary aims include evaluation of the wearer compliance and evaluation of the role of the OOCLP/OPH on the CL patient education.
Methods :
In a pilot study, 200 monthly contact lens wearers (CLW) were randomly approached and asked to complete a specially modified questionnaire. Amongst others, the knowledge, use, recommendation, information, compliance, and satisfaction of the monthly CLs were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi Square tests.
Results :
Subjects were informed about CLs mainly by OOCLP (43.5%) and friends and family (31.5%), and less by OPH (7.5%). 79.5% of the CLW bought their lenses through an OOCLP, while the rest through other sources including Internet (11.5%). SiH CLs are mainly used (41.5%) at a wearing time of 12-18 hours per day (35%), seven days per week (30%), mainly from the higher educated CLW (p=0.023). Despite the 84.5% of CLW being advised on CL wear and care, 14% of CLW admitted non-compliance, mainly by using CLs for longer than recommended (34%).
Women (p=0.003), subjects aged 26-30 (p=0.043) and subjects with higher education (p=0.023) were statistically significant more compliant. Furthermore, less than half of the participants (47%) reported fully satisfied with their lenses, mainly from the lower educational groups (p=0.022), with main problems being dry eye (28.5%), CL intolerance (23.5%) and blurred vision (21%), as early as three weeks into wear (34.5%). Compliance was also highly correlated with the source of CLs: CLW were statistically significant more compliant when buying CLs (p=0.001) and receiving instructions on CL use (p=0.041) from the OOCLP rather than any other source. Finally, CLW were dissatisfied with the lack of information received by their OPH (p=0.013).
Conclusions :
The present study suggests a decrease in monthly CL performance over the course of three weeks to a month. Significant majorities of CLW need further education from eye care practitioners, as they play a significant role in increasing CLW satisfaction in CL use and compliance.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.