Abstract
The study aimed to assess contact lens (CL) wear and care habits among adults in Sudan. An observational, non-interventional, multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in the CL departments of all the eye hospitals and centers, and optical centers in the Khartoum State, Sudan. Established CL wearers residing in Khartoum State, Sudan. CL wear profile, CL usage habits, hand and CL hygiene habits were assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The average age of the 442 participants was 24.57 (± 4.87) years. Women comprised 92% of the sample. Smoking was reported by 15.8% of the sample. 81.9% wore soft spherical CL, with 43.4% of the participants were prescribed CL on a yearly replacement schedule. Only 68.3% were prescribed CL by an eye care practitioner. Multipurpose solutions were used by 78.8% of the sample to clean CL, and by 52% to clean the lens case. Compliance rate for CL wear and care among participants was 81.1%. None of the participants reported sharing CL or CL case and rinsing the case with tap water. High compliance level was observed for overnight wear; swimming and showering with CL; handwashing before CL insertion; and cleaning of CL. Moderate compliance rates were recorded for cleaning and replacing lens case, and topping up or sharing solution. Low compliance was noted for attending after care visits. CL wearers in Sudan exhibit high to moderate levels of compliance to most contact lens wear and care aspects, except for attending aftercare visits. CL practitioners in Sudan are encouraged to prescribe CL appropriate to the lifestyle and economic situation of patients and actively recommend care products. In addition, practitioners need to follow up with patients to attend aftercare appointments, where hygienic wear and care habits should be emphasized.
Highlights
Contact lenses (CLs) are used by millions of people worldwide, mainly to correct refractive error, and for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons, with well safety records when used appropriately as recommended by an eye care practitioner [1,2,3]
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Multipurpose solutions were used by 78.8% of the sample to clean CL, and by 52% to clean the lens case
Summary
Contact lenses (CLs) are used by millions of people worldwide, mainly to correct refractive error, and for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons, with well safety records when used appropriately as recommended by an eye care practitioner [1,2,3]. Soft CLs are the most common type of CL prescribed or fitted globally, while gas-permeable (GP) CLs represent a small proportion of the type of lenses fitted [4]. It is of interest to understand the profile of CL wear and care in developing markets to allow eyecare practitioners in these countries to comprehend the demographics of CL wearers, and their attitude towards CL purchase and use [6]. CLs are considered one of the most widely used medical devices globally and they require a prescription from an eyecare medical practitioner in many developed countries [9,10,11]. It has been noted that eye care practitioners in developing countries do not actively prescribe CLs in comparison to spectacles, neither do they routinely recommend the appropriate CL care products. Gauging practitioners’ readiness to advise and educate patients is key to understand the level of compliance to CL wear and care [15]
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