Abstract
Objectives:To describe the characteristics and hygiene habits of contact lens (CL) wearers who acquire CLs over the Internet, as well as their awareness of modifiable risk factors (RFs).Methods:A web-based survey was conducted among clients of an online CL sales platform during 6 months. Demographic data, CL hygiene-related awareness, and compliance were collected and analyzed.Results:The questionnaire was completed by 1,264 CL wearers: the average age was 40.8 years; most were women (71.1%), had myopia (76.4%), and wore monthly disposable CLs (63.6%). The frequency of eye examination was significantly lower among those buying the CL exclusively online (15.8% vs. 6.6%, P<0.001) and those who had begun CL use on their own (17.5% vs. 8.8%, P<0.001). Initiation to CL wear without the intervention of an eye care practitioner was more frequent in wearers with less experience. Common risk behaviors included water exposure (68.1% in swimming and 64.9% in the shower), use of the case (61.9%) and CL (65.1%) beyond the recommended replacement time, and reuse of the maintenance solution (31.9%). Ignorance of recommended hygiene increased the probability of risky behavior.Conclusion:There were no differences in compliance or awareness of risks between those purchasing exclusively online and other CL wearers. However, the growing frequency of self-taught initiation in CL wear among less-experienced online customers and online exclusive purchase was associated with a decrease in eye examination frequency and therefore worse compliance and increased risks. This finding underlines the importance of publicizing correct hygiene habits by all possible means so as to increase compliance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 208-213 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Eye and Contact Lens |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2020 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Compliance
- Contact lens
- Hygiene habits
- Internet purchase
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology