Compliance with contact lens care and factors driving noncompliance in health-care students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess compliance to contact lens care behaviors and determine common factors influencing noncompliance among a population of university students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study in which a previously validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 12 questions addressing compliance to contact lens wear and care was E-mailed through the university message center. RESULTS: A total of 388 participants completed the questionnaire. Of those who completed the survey, 150 were contact lens users with an experience of 1 month or more. The average compliance rate to contact lens care was around 66%. High levels of compliance were reported in sharing contact lenses, sleeping with contact lenses, showering/swimming with contact lenses, and using water to clean contact lenses. Moderate levels of compliance were shown in overuse of contact lenses, adherence to instructions of lens cleaning, cleaning the lens case, and adherence to aftercare visits. The lowest levels of compliance were noted in washing hands before lens use and lens case replacement. Gender, smoking, contact lens experience, type and modality of contact lens usage, and contact lens purchase site were found to have a significant association with behaviors showing poor compliance. Believing there is no harm in wearing lenses for longer than the recommended replacement schedule was the primary reason given for overusing contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Moderate levels of compliance were generally reported by respondents, necessitating the need for better strategies to reinforce the importance of compliance to contact lens care in the Saudi population.