Hydrogel contact lens wearers more likely to consider halting lens wear as they age

Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2008.12.001.

Older hydrogel contact lens wearers were more likely than younger hydrogel or silicone hydrogel lens wearers to report discomfort and consider giving up lenses, according to a study.

"Young adult contact lens wearers should be routinely queried directly about specific aspects of contact lens wear in order to determine whether different lens types should be prescribed to avoid abandonment of contact lens wear," the study authors said.

The authors analyzed questionnaire responses from 699 hydrogel contact lens wearers and 183 silicone hydrogel lens wearers between the ages of 18 and 35 years to assess associations between age and difficulties with contact lens wear.

Study data showed reported diagnosis of dry eye rising from 10.6% of hydrogel contact lens wearers 18 to 24 years old to 21.1% of hydrogel lens users 30 to 35 years old. The rate of reported dry eye was about 19% among silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers in both age groups.

Among hydrogel contact lens wearers, 4.6% of those 18 to 24 years old and 14.2% of those 30 to 35 years old considered giving up lenses. Nine percent of silicone contact lens wearers in both age groups considered halting lens wear, the authors said.