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Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021 10; 44(5):101381.CL

Abstract

AIM

To establish contact lens wear and care practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

METHOD

A 58-item anonymous online survey was distributed during the period 30th April to 10th May via Qualtrics. The survey explored: a) demographic characteristics (age, sex, general health and where they were living during lockdown), b) changes in their contact lens use during lockdown, c) hygiene and contact lens compliance and d) concerns associated with contact lens wear and ways to support wearers during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty responses were analysed (38.8 ± 11.4 years old, 75% female). Three-quarters of participants reported that they were self-isolating or rigorously following social distancing advice. Sixty-seven percent of participants reported using their contact lenses less during the pandemic. Respondents were found to be compliant with handwashing prior to inserting and removing contact lenses (in both cases 97% doing this 'most times' or 'every time'). However, only 44 % complied with the '20 s rule' and 48 % used a shared towel to dry their hands. A higher proportion of hydrogen peroxide users replaced the lens case monthly compared to multi-purpose users (64% vs.49%; p < 0.001). Twenty-four percent admitted wearing lenses whilst showering and 16% did not consider ceasing lens wear if feeling unwell with flu/cold symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Eye care practitioners should continue to educate contact lens wearers to ensure safe contact lens wear to minimise the chance of developing contact lens related complications during the pandemic. Modifiable factors that need particular attention in Spain include: handwashing for at least 20s before lens handling, drying hands with single use paper towels, including a rub-and-rinse step for reusable lenses, lens case cleaning and renewal, avoidance of water exposure and when to cease lens wear during the pandemic.

Links

PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Vianya-Estopa M
Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: marta.vianya@aru.ac.uk.
Garcia-Porta N
Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: nery.garcia-porta@aru.ac.uk.
Piñero DP
Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, Faculty of Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: david.pinyero@ua.es.
Simo Mannion L
School of Health and Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK. Electronic address: luisa.simo@port.ac.uk.
Beukes EW
Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: eldre.beukes@aru.ac.uk.
Wolffsohn JS
Optometry and Vision Science Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: J.S.W.Wolffsohn@aston.ac.uk.
Allen PM
Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: peter.allen@aru.ac.uk.

MeSH

AdultCOVID-19Communicable Disease ControlContact Lens SolutionsContact Lenses, HydrophilicFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Spain

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

33246914

Citation

Vianya-Estopa, Marta, et al. "Contact Lens Wear and Care in Spain During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Contact Lens & Anterior Eye : the Journal of the British Contact Lens Association, vol. 44, no. 5, 2021, p. 101381.
Vianya-Estopa M, Garcia-Porta N, Piñero DP, et al. Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021;44(5):101381.
Vianya-Estopa, M., Garcia-Porta, N., Piñero, D. P., Simo Mannion, L., Beukes, E. W., Wolffsohn, J. S., & Allen, P. M. (2021). Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact Lens & Anterior Eye : the Journal of the British Contact Lens Association, 44(5), 101381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2020.11.001
Vianya-Estopa M, et al. Contact Lens Wear and Care in Spain During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021;44(5):101381. PubMed PMID: 33246914.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. AU - Vianya-Estopa,Marta, AU - Garcia-Porta,Nery, AU - Piñero,David P, AU - Simo Mannion,Luisa, AU - Beukes,Eldre W, AU - Wolffsohn,James S, AU - Allen,Peter M, Y1 - 2020/11/11/ PY - 2020/08/18/received PY - 2020/10/29/revised PY - 2020/11/05/accepted PY - 2020/11/29/pubmed PY - 2021/9/18/medline PY - 2020/11/28/entrez KW - Acanthamoeba KW - COVID-19 KW - Compliance KW - Complications KW - Contact lens KW - Education KW - Microbial keratitis SP - 101381 EP - 101381 JF - Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association JO - Cont Lens Anterior Eye VL - 44 IS - 5 N2 - AIM: To establish contact lens wear and care practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. METHOD: A 58-item anonymous online survey was distributed during the period 30th April to 10th May via Qualtrics. The survey explored: a) demographic characteristics (age, sex, general health and where they were living during lockdown), b) changes in their contact lens use during lockdown, c) hygiene and contact lens compliance and d) concerns associated with contact lens wear and ways to support wearers during the pandemic. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty responses were analysed (38.8 ± 11.4 years old, 75% female). Three-quarters of participants reported that they were self-isolating or rigorously following social distancing advice. Sixty-seven percent of participants reported using their contact lenses less during the pandemic. Respondents were found to be compliant with handwashing prior to inserting and removing contact lenses (in both cases 97% doing this 'most times' or 'every time'). However, only 44 % complied with the '20 s rule' and 48 % used a shared towel to dry their hands. A higher proportion of hydrogen peroxide users replaced the lens case monthly compared to multi-purpose users (64% vs.49%; p < 0.001). Twenty-four percent admitted wearing lenses whilst showering and 16% did not consider ceasing lens wear if feeling unwell with flu/cold symptoms. CONCLUSION: Eye care practitioners should continue to educate contact lens wearers to ensure safe contact lens wear to minimise the chance of developing contact lens related complications during the pandemic. Modifiable factors that need particular attention in Spain include: handwashing for at least 20s before lens handling, drying hands with single use paper towels, including a rub-and-rinse step for reusable lenses, lens case cleaning and renewal, avoidance of water exposure and when to cease lens wear during the pandemic. SN - 1476-5411 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/33246914/Contact_lens_wear_and_care_in_Spain_during_the_COVID_19_pandemic_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -