Abstract
AIM
COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several reports have provided conflicting recommendations regarding contact lenses (CL) use during COVID-19, causing confusion among CL wearers. The aim of this study is to assess CL wearers' attitudes toward CL wear and care during COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
A web-based cross-sectional online survey was used to assess the participants' attitude toward CL wear and care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey layout was based on Google form® specifically developed for CL wearers. Demographic characteristics and CL history and profile were also collected for each participant.
RESULTS
A total of 196 CL wearers completed the online survey with an average age was 26 (± 4.1) and 90.8 % of participants were females. As reported by the participants, social media was the main source of information about COVID-19. 38.8 % of the study population reported stopping CL wear during the pandemic. The main stated reason for lens discontinuation was decreased social activities during the pandemic. 61.2 % of participants continued lens wear, with the majority reported considerable changes in their behaviors toward CL wear and care during the pandemic. This includes reinforced hands cleaning before and after lens wear, disinfecting of CLs and CL case and less frequent CL aftercare visits.
CONCLUSION
The majority of the study population have continued CL wear during the pandemic. Contact lens wearers reported profound changes in attitudes toward CL wear including improved care and maintenance. Additionally, changes in CL purchase habit have been reported with more tendency for online purchase. CL cessation has been associated with several perceived reasons mainly attributed to reduced outdoor activity and fear of ocular infection. Levels of compliance among CL wearers should be assessed and reinforced during the current pandemic and similar lockdown situation to reduce possible CL-related complications and dropout.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of contact lens wearers' attitude toward contact lens wear and care during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A cross-sectional online survey.
AU - Bakkar,May M,
AU - Alzghoul,Eman A,
Y1 - 2021/01/14/
PY - 2020/09/08/received
PY - 2021/01/12/revised
PY - 2021/01/12/accepted
PY - 2021/1/20/pubmed
PY - 2021/12/15/medline
PY - 2021/1/19/entrez
KW - Behaviors
KW - COVID-19
KW - Contact lens
KW - Jordan
SP - 101410
EP - 101410
JF - Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association
JO - Cont Lens Anterior Eye
VL - 44
IS - 6
N2 - AIM: COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several reports have provided conflicting recommendations regarding contact lenses (CL) use during COVID-19, causing confusion among CL wearers. The aim of this study is to assess CL wearers' attitudes toward CL wear and care during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional online survey was used to assess the participants' attitude toward CL wear and care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey layout was based on Google form® specifically developed for CL wearers. Demographic characteristics and CL history and profile were also collected for each participant. RESULTS: A total of 196 CL wearers completed the online survey with an average age was 26 (± 4.1) and 90.8 % of participants were females. As reported by the participants, social media was the main source of information about COVID-19. 38.8 % of the study population reported stopping CL wear during the pandemic. The main stated reason for lens discontinuation was decreased social activities during the pandemic. 61.2 % of participants continued lens wear, with the majority reported considerable changes in their behaviors toward CL wear and care during the pandemic. This includes reinforced hands cleaning before and after lens wear, disinfecting of CLs and CL case and less frequent CL aftercare visits. CONCLUSION: The majority of the study population have continued CL wear during the pandemic. Contact lens wearers reported profound changes in attitudes toward CL wear including improved care and maintenance. Additionally, changes in CL purchase habit have been reported with more tendency for online purchase. CL cessation has been associated with several perceived reasons mainly attributed to reduced outdoor activity and fear of ocular infection. Levels of compliance among CL wearers should be assessed and reinforced during the current pandemic and similar lockdown situation to reduce possible CL-related complications and dropout.
SN - 1476-5411
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/33461877/Assessment_of_contact_lens_wearers'_attitude_toward_contact_lens_wear_and_care_during_Coronavirus_Disease_2019__COVID_19__pandemic:_A_cross_sectional_online_survey_
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
