Prevalence of dry eye disease related to contact lens wear in young adults

Laura Kapitanovaitė1, Simas Giedrys1, Dalia Jarušaitienė2

1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

2Department of Opthalmology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Background & objectives: Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disorder which affects millions of people worldwide. The aim of the study is to investigate prevalence of dry eye disease among young contact lens (CL) wearers, compare with non-wearers and evaluate correlations between different features of contact lens usage and the manifestation of dry eye disease.

Methods: Questionnaire CLDEQ-8 was used for contact lens wearers and DEQ-5 for non-wearers. For contact lens wearers questions about the type of their contact lens was inquired to determine lens parameters.  The character of the symptoms was measured with the dimensions of frequency and intensity. Water content and oxygen transmissibility values were conducted through reports of the manufacturer.

Results:  The dry eye questionnaires were completed by 238 students (126 DEQ-5 and 112 CLDEQ-8). Most students use CL for more than 5 years (57,1%) and monthly CL are the most popular (76,8%). Most common wearing time of CL was between 8h. and 16h (51,8%). The most common symptom of dry eyes experienced in contact lens wearers was dryness of eyes (85,7%), while eyes discomfort (84,9%) was the most common symptom in non-contact lens wearers. Correlations between expressed dry eye symptoms and contact lenses parameters were not significant (p = 0,632, p = 0,347)

Conclusions: Dry eye disease is a common pathology in young adult population, especially for contact lens wearers. Symptoms usually increase at the end of the day, but does not depend on composition of the lens.

Keywords: contact lens, dry eye disease.