Some Contact Lens Users Neglect Replacement Schedule

Patients who wear contact lenses that should be replaced after 2 weeks may be less likely to comply with the recommended replacement time, according to the results of a study published in the April 2013 issue of Optometry & Vision Science.

Eye care practitioners and patients from 141 offices throughout the United States completed questionnaires about their contact lens wear and care. Participants were current wearers of daily disposable lenses or reusable lenses. Reusable lenses were recommended by the manufacturer to be replaced after 2 weeks or 1 month of use.

Only 34% of patients who wore 2-week replacement lenses were compliant with lens care procedures compared with 74% of patients with daily disposables and 67% of patients with 1-month replacement lenses. The researchers also found that patients who were noncompliant had full eye examinations less frequently and were less likely to buy an annual supply of lenses. Household income, insurance, and gender also affected the frequency of eye examinations.

The authors conclude that eye care practitioners should review recommended lens care practices with their patients and emphasize their importance in helping to reduce complications and improve their satisfaction and comfort with their lenses.