Are professionals and patients wearing contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Abstract

Objective: To know the frequency and characteristics of contact lens use in professionals and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A digital questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information, use and frequency of contact lenses in professionals and fitting or refitting in patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 172 professionals participated in the survey, of which 70.3% were women. There were refractive errors in 74.4%, and only 32.0% have used contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lenses most used by professionals are silicone hydrogel, 99.9%. The replacement modality has been 69.0% biweekly or monthly. Optometrists (63.4%) reported that the frequency of fitting and/ or refitting contact lenses decreased during the pandemic. Before and during the pandemic, the lens material used more frequently was silicone hydrogel with 79.7% and 76.7%, respectively.The replacement modality was biweekly or monthly, with 76.2% before and 73.3% during the pandemic. Of all the participants, 58.1% consider that the sale of contact lenses has decreased. Conclusions: During the pandemic, the fitting, refitting, and sale of contact lenses have decreased. The lenses most used by professionals and patients are silicone hydrogels replaced every two weeks or monthly.