Awareness about wear and care of contact lenses among undergraduate medical students

Abstract

This study aims to assess among the undergraduate medical students the knowledge about wear and care of contact lens and also to highlight their awareness about complications of inappropriate contact lens use. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire conducted the study. Fifty students were selected from each year to come up with a sample size of a total of 200 undergraduate medical students. Questions about the use of contact lens, hygienic practices in contact lens use and also complications related to contact lens usage were asked in the questionnaire. Out of 200 students surveyed, only 31 participants were wearing contact lens. It was observed that in our study, 54.84% of students were using contact lens for refractive error, 29.03% for cosmetic purpose and 16.13% for convenience. 66.5% of students did not know about overwear syndrome.36.5% of students were aware that Pseudomonas is most commonly involved in contact lens-related ulcers. 73.79% spectacle users stated that they are convenient with spectacles preferably than a contact lens. About 53% of students gained knowledge about contact lens through friends and family. A good number of students were aware of most of the hygienic practices of contact lens and complications related to contact lens wear. However, education about do's and don'ts regarding contact lens should also be taught to medical students during Ophthalmology postings to make them aware of complications of contact lens usage.