Complications and compliance in professionally-managed and self-managed contact lenses compared with non-contact lens wearers

Purpose To test the impact of professional management of soft contact lens wear on symptoms and ocular complications. Methods Subjective symptoms and ocular complications of soft CL users who did not seek professional follow-up care (self-managed, SM), were compared to users who were prescribed CLs and their care professionally managed in optometry practices (PM), and to a control group of non-CL wearers. Habitual visual acuity, subjective dry-eye symptoms, and corneal abnormalities were assessed in all participants. CL wearers filled-out a usage habits questionnaire, and their CL fit was assessed. Outcomes were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi Squared tests. Results The SM, PM, and non-CL wearers cohorts included 127 (mean age:24.3±5.1, median:23, range:16–45 years,104 female), 132 (mean age:25.5±6.2, median:23, range:18–43 years,103 female), and 56 (mean age:22.3±3.5, median:21, range:18–39 years,36 female) participants, respectively. Meibomian gland dysfunction grade (p = 0.004, p<0.0001), limbal redness (both p = 0.04), corneal neovascularization (both p = 0.003), and papillary conjunctivitis (p<0.0001,p = 0.005) were significantly worse in SM CL wearers compared with both the non-CL wearers and PM CL wearers, respectively. Conjunctival staining was significantly worse in the SM cohort compared with the PM cohort (p = 0.01). 38.6% of the SM compared with 22.8% of the PM CL wearers, had an inappropriate refractive correction (p = 0.006). SM CL wearers wore CLs significantly more years (mean and median 1 year,p = 0.008), for more daily hours (mean and median of 2 hours,p<0.00001), and tended to nap or sleep with their CLs compared with the PM CL wearers (47 vs. 29,p = 0.02). The cohorts did not differ in their subjective symptoms. Conclusions Complications are significantly more prevalent in SM CL wearers compared with PM CL wearers, and SM CL wearers tend to wear CLs with incorrect powers, and are less compliant with napping or sleeping with the CLs compared with PM CL wearers. These findings emphasize the importance of fitting, patient education and follow-ups in CL wearers.