From the Guidelines
Easy contact lens use significantly improves user rates and satisfaction, with daily disposable lenses being a key factor in reducing complications and increasing comfort. Making contact lenses easier to handle, insert, remove, and maintain directly correlates with higher adoption rates and greater user satisfaction. Specifically, daily disposable lenses eliminate the need for cleaning solutions and storage cases, reducing the complexity of lens care and decreasing the risk of complications from improper cleaning, as noted in 1. Innovations like moisture-retaining materials (such as silicone hydrogel), enhanced wettability, and improved oxygen permeability make lenses more comfortable throughout the day, addressing common complaints like dryness and discomfort.
Some key points to consider for easy contact lens use include:
- Washing hands with soap and water, and drying them before handling contact lenses every time, as recommended in 1 and 1
- Avoiding sleeping in contact lenses unless approved by an eye doctor, due to the increased risk of corneal infections, as mentioned in 1 and 1
- Never storing contact lenses in water and keeping tap water away from them, as advised in 1 and 1
- Using only fresh contact lens disinfecting solution in the case and never mixing old and new solutions, as recommended in 1 and 1
The psychological aspect is also important - when users perceive contact lenses as simple to use, they're more likely to continue wearing them long-term. This relationship between ease of use and satisfaction exists because complicated care regimens and handling difficulties create barriers to consistent lens wear, leading to frustration and eventual abandonment of contact lenses in favor of glasses. According to the most recent study 1, patient education and proper contact lens care are crucial in preventing complications and ensuring satisfactory use.
In terms of specific lens types, daily disposable lenses have been shown to significantly reduce the relative risk of microbial keratitis compared to planned replacement soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, as noted in 1. Therefore, daily disposable lenses are recommended for easy contact lens use and to improve user rates and satisfaction.
From the Research
Easy Contact Lens Use and User Satisfaction
- Easy contact lens use can lead to better user rates and satisfaction, as users who find contact lenses easy to use are more likely to continue using them and be satisfied with their experience 2.
- A study found that contact lens users reported a higher level of satisfaction (4.15 out of 5) compared to eyeglass users (3.11 out of 5), suggesting that easy contact lens use can contribute to higher user satisfaction 2.
- However, the study also found that the most common complaints from contact lens users were dry eye and discomfort in the evening, highlighting the need for proper education and care to ensure easy and comfortable contact lens use 2.
Factors Affecting Easy Contact Lens Use
- The type of contact lens material can affect easy contact lens use, with silicone hydrogel lenses being highly oxygen permeable and reducing the risk of lens-induced hypoxia 3, 4.
- The way contact lenses are worn, particularly overnight wear, can increase the risk of microbial keratitis, highlighting the need for proper care and maintenance to ensure easy and safe contact lens use 3, 5.
- Education and awareness about proper contact lens use and care are crucial in preventing problems that can threaten eye health, and providing accurate information through concise messages in physician-supervised education can be beneficial to public health 2.
Medical Use of Contact Lenses
- Contact lenses can be used for medical purposes, such as treating high refractive error, irregular astigmatism, and ocular surface disease, and can improve epithelial healing and reduce pain in persistent epithelial defects 6.
- The development of highly oxygen permeable soft and rigid materials has extended the suitability of contact lenses for medical applications, and modern scleral lens practice has achieved great success for both visual rehabilitation and therapeutic applications 6.