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Volume 2, Issue 2 (Suppl)
Optom open access
ISSN: 2476-2075 OMOA, an open access journal
Ophthalmologists 2017
September 25-26, 2017
September 25-26, 2017 Dubai, UAE
11
th
Global
Ophthalmologists Annual Meeting
Contact lenses in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence and characteristics of wear and care
Nuha Saleh Alsalameh
King Saud University, KSA
Introduction:
In the early seventies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first contact lenses (CLs) for
human use. CLs are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct various refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia,
astigmatism and presbyopia. They can also be worn for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes. The continuous improvement in CL
biocompatibility materials and oxygen transmissibility allows users to wear them on a daily, weekly or monthly basis without
obvious complications. It has been estimated that the number of CL wearers exceeds 140 million worldwide. In the United
States, the number of contact lens wearers is estimated to be 40.9 million according to a population-based survey methodology
by the centers for disease control and prevention. In the United Kingdom, the number of CL wearers has risen from 1.6 million
in 1992 to 3.5 million in 2014 then to 3.7 million in 2016. However, many CL wearers do not have enough knowledge (or exhibit
poor compliance) about lens use, lens hygiene or the importance of aftercare visits to eye care practitioners (ECPs), which may
lead to serious corneal and conjunctival complications.
Purpose:
To assess the prevalence and trend of contact lens (CL) wear and care among the Saudi Arabian community.
Method:
In total, 20415 Saudi Arabian citizens from all five geographic areas of Saudi Arabia volunteered to participate in
an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was constructed to gather information regarding CL wearer
demographics, education level, current job, purpose of wear, wearing habits during the day, sharing of CLs with friends, wearing
hygiene, lens case replacement and attitudes toward aftercare visits.
Results:
Out of the 20415; 10858 (53.2%) were CL wearers. Out of the CL wearers, 88.8% were females and 11.2% were males
with the majority in the age group of 16-20 (35.2%) and 21-25 (35.5%). Central and western regions had the majority of CL
wearers (37.3% and 35.3%, respectively). Students were considered the majority in CL wear (58.4%), and cosmetic purpose was
the main reason for wear (43.1%) followed by correction purpose (31.3%). Regarding wearing habits, 21.8% of participants
stated that they had slept while wearing their lenses on various occasions and 18.4% had shared their lenses with friends with
females being dominant in sharing lenses with friends (95.2%). Hand washing, changing lens solution and lens case replacements
were applied regularly by 72.7%, 50.2% and 32.9% respectively. About two thirds (62.4%) stated that they obtained their lenses
without prescription and the majority (58.8%) stated that they had not visited an eye care practitioner (ECP) for a checkup.
Conclusion:
This study presents the prevalence and characteristics of CL wear and care in all five geographical areas of Saudi
Arabia. Poor compliance was clear regarding many CL aspects. The results will help health authorities and ECPs in planning
better CL services and restricted rules need to be applied to regulate CL sale and wear in Saudi Arabia.
Biography
Nuha Saleh Alsalameh is currently placed as an Intern at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
1 She have certificate of appreciation for contribution in the organization of world glaucoma week event, at panorama mall, Riyadh, on 15-16 March 2017
She have certificate on cooperation on world kidney day on 14-15 march 2014 at sahara mall with prof ahmed mitwalli.
2 She have certificate for being active member in the documentation team in IBD educational program entitled: yes i can on 2014 at grnada mall with dr.othman
alharbi.
3 She have certificate for contribution in campaign called (your immunity is your life) on 11, april, 2015 at grinatah mall with doctor nouf alkhamis.
4 She have certificate for collaboration on English club at prepatury year on 2012
5 She participated to collect and distribute gifts for patient at kkuh on Eid, but the certificate not given yet.
6 She has cooperation with scoliosis activity
7 Certificate of appreciation in recognition for valuable contribution as a participant at watan wa hayat 5(in helping poor people and community awareness), held
on duration from 5 - 29 2016, Riyadh
8 Certificate of appreciation of being a participant in world diabetic day a credit by the Saudi commission for health specialties 2015 11- 15
9 Certificate of appreciation for effort and participating as a member in the following teams (physiology and anatomy team) with a total of 21 hours participation, was
part of the student to student mentoring activity and it had positivity affect her excellent performance during the academic year, 2012 – 2013
10 Certificate of appreciation for participation in the Multiple Sclerosis adherence a study in Saudi Arabia 2013 to 2014
dr.nuha57@gmail.comNuha Saleh Alsalameh, Optom open access 2017, 2:2 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2476-2075-C1-006