Contact lens status in ametropia correction: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: Optical devices such as spectacles and contact lenses have been used to correct ametropia for many years. Recently, surgical means of correction such as photorefractive keratectomy have been introduced. All of these forms of correction are readily available in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of contact lens use in ametropia correction. This survey also presents an insight into patient satisfaction with their correction and their willingness to change to another form of correction in the future. This will serve as a guide for eye care practitioners and manufacturers. METHOD: Five hundred and seventy four subjects responded to questionnaires randomly distributed among hospital patients, students and staff of King Saud University. RESULTS: Data revealed that spectacle wearers constituted 74.5 per cent of the sample population, followed by contact lens wearers (21.8 per cent) and those who had undergone photorefractive keratectomy (3.7 per cent). On the whole, 50 per cent of the population sample would change to another form of correction. Among contact lens wearers, 9.5 per cent would prefer to change to PRK and 0.4 per cent to spectacles, while 17.9 per cent of spectacle wearers would consider changing to contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Contact lenses constitute a minor proportion of ametropia corrections. Spectacles remain the most popular form of ametropia correction at the moment, but for the future, there is greater tendency towards contact lenses and PRK.