Vision Correction Habits After COVID-19 Onset in Spectacle and Contact Lens Wearers.

PURPOSE: To determine how vision correction habits changed after the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic onset. METHODS: Participants reported vision correction habits, refractive error, screen time, mask wearing time, and dry eye symptoms since the COVID-19 pandemic onset through email survey. RESULTS: A total of 133 participants completed the survey. Worsening dry eye symptoms were associated with increased screen time ( P =0.04). Hours per day of spectacle wear increased by approximately 1 hr ( P =0.001) and was associated with increased screen time ( P =0.002). Worsening dry eye symptoms were associated with increased days per week of spectacle wear ( P =0.02). Participants wore contact lenses about one day per week less than before the pandemic ( P =0.0001). Increased mask wearing time was associated with increased days per week of contact lens wear ( P =0.03). CONCLUSIONS: After pandemic onset, hours per day of spectacle wear increased, and days per week of contact lens wear decreased. Increases in hourly spectacle wear were associated with increased screen time, whereas increased daily contact lens wear was associated with increased mask wear time, suggesting that spectacles may be preferred for screen time activities and contact lenses for mask wear.

Value of routine evaluation in asymptomatic soft contact lens wearers.

OBJECTIVES: Limited literature supports the value of routine contact lens examinations. The purpose of this study is to document complications diagnosed when subjectively successful planned replacement soft contact lens patients are evaluated to renew their existing contact lens prescriptions. METHODS: Asymptomatic soft contact lens patients who presented to the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health (Anaheim, CA) and the Eye and Vision Center at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Worcester, MA) for routine contact lens comprehensive exams to renew existing contact lens prescriptions were professionally evaluated and their complications documented. All subjects presented without complaint and had a history of subjectively successful planned replacement soft lens wear for at least 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 202 subjects were recruited from both sites (age range 16-72 years; 76 male, 126 female; spherical contact lens optical power equivalent range: +7.75D to -19.25D). Considering health issues, one hundred and five (52%) patients were found to exhibit at least one undiagnosed complication (95% CI: 0.45-0.59): 70% were diagnosed with contact lens driven ocular complications; 54% were diagnosed with non-contact lens driven ocular health issues; and 4% showed signs of undiagnosed systemic disease. Of note, complication prevalence increases to 72% overall if both contact lens fit issues and contact lens care compliance problems are included as complications in analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A striking ocular health and contact lens complication rate in asymptomatic soft contact lens wearers is demonstrated across two different study sites. This data suggests that asymptomatic as well as symptomatic contact lens wearers require routine professional evaluations.