Assessment of Dry Eye Syndrome Among Contact Lens Users in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

Background Patients with contact lens-associated dry eye (CLADE) disease had different symptoms, such as dryness, foreign body sensation, eye strain, and blurred vision. In addition, CLADE is characterized by end-of-day pain. The degradation of the ocular surface as a result of extended dryness or employment with a visual display terminal (VDT) causes these symptoms. Because these symptoms worsen as the day progresses, practitioners should evaluate contact lens wearers at the end of the day to identify symptomatic patients. Aim To assess dry eye syndrome among contact lens users in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was used, targeting all accessible contact lens users in the Asir region, South of Saudi Arabia. A total of 250 individuals received the study survey. Data were collected from participants using an online pre-structured questionnaire. The authors initiated the study tool with the help of a comprehensive review of similar articles in the literature and consulting specialized experts, including an ophthalmologist and Arabic translator, to ensure the accuracy of the questionnaire's translation process. The questionnaire covered the following data: participants' socio-demographic data, contact lens use and frequency of use, dry eyes symptoms (DESs) questions, Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 (CLDEQ-8), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results Out of 405 respondents, only 201 contact lens users in the Asir region were included in the study, with a participation rate of 80.4%. Respondents' ages ranged from 18 to 50 years with a mean age of 24.3 ± 12.8 years old. A total of 122 (60.7%) contact lens users had eye disease, including myopia among 94 (77%), hyperopia among 8 (6.6%), and 20 (16.4%) had other eye diseases. A total of 91% of the study participants felt dry eyes two weeks before study time, 88.1% experienced burning sensation, and 82.6% complained of red-eye. A total of 131 (65.2%) contact lens users had non-dry eyes, 41 (20.4%) had mild dry eyes, 20 (10%) had moderate dry eyes, and 9 (4.5%) had severe dry eyes. A total of 48.8% of those who used lenses daily had dry eyes compared to 25% of those who used lenses annually (P = 0.049). Conclusions In conclusion, the current study showed that nearly one out of three contact lens users in the Asir region experienced contact lens-related dry eye syndrome mainly with a moderate degree. A higher dry eye syndrome rate is estimated among those who reported a higher frequency of contact lens use and others with a history of eye diseases.