Contact lens complications: the Singapore experience

An analysis of all cases presenting with contact lens related complications to the Department of Ophthalmology, Singapore General Hospital, was undertaken over a period of one year (October 1987 to September 1988). A total of 147 patients were seen with contact lens related problems. The overall incidence of patients with contact lens related problems was 0.8% of all referrals to the Department of Ophthalmology during this period. This survey was done in a prospective manner and an analysis with regard to age, sex distribution, presenting complaints, sterilisation technique and diagnoses was done. The study showed a significantly higher incidence of serious sight-threatening complications in extended wear lens wearers. Hard contact lens and Hard Gas Permeable lens wearers had no serious complications seen. There was a significant number of young adults choosing to wear the extended wear contact lens for the convenience of not having to clean their lenses daily even though they had a higher risk of a sight-threatening complication. Interviews with the patients also showed a universally poor knowledge of contact lens hygiene.