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Comfort, visual quality found equal contributors to presbyopic contact lens dropout
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In a presbyopic population, dissatisfaction with vision and discomfort were reported equally as often as primary reasons for discontinuation, according to a study in Optometry and Vision Science.
A total of 496 presbyopic patient surveys were analyzed to assess current age, gender, contact lens material/design and opinions of contact lens comfort and visual quality.
Participants had eye exams over the last 4 years at the same eye care center in Ohio. The mean age of respondents was 57 years, with 68% of the sample being female.
Permanent contact lens wear discontinuation was reported by 15% of patients, according to researchers. No association was found between contact lens discontinuation and age, gender, age of beginning contact lens wear or contact lens material.
Patients reported poor vision (38%), discomfort (34%), convenience (20%) and cost (6%) as primary reasons for discontinuation.
As opposed to current contact lens wearers, those who ceased contact lens wear had an overall worse opinion of their vision at all distances, according to the study. Further, researchers found contact lens wear was not related to discontinuation.
“This result differs from previous studies that surveyed patients of all ages and reported dryness and discomfort as the primary reason for dropout,” researchers wrote.
“When attempting to maintain contact lens wear in dissatisfied patients, doctors should consider not only impressions of comfort but also opinions of vision quality at all distances,” they concluded. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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