The prevalence and pattern of contact lens use in a Singapore community.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic patterns, and characteristics of contact lens use in an electoral community in Singapore.


METHODS
One thousand eight hundred fifteen persons aged between 12-55 years from 768 households were surveyed using a standardized pre-tested questionnaire.


RESULTS
The percentage of contact lens wearers in the survey populations was 9.0%. Forty-two percent of surveyed individuals were myopes, 21.8% of whom wore contact lenses. Contact lens wearers tended to be young Chinese females with higher level education and incomes. Most wore monthly disposable or daily wear soft contact lenses. Convenience and cosmesis were the main reasons cited for contact lens wear. Optometrists, who prescribed the bulk of contact lenses, were also the most influential in determining consumers' choice of lenses.


CONCLUSIONS
Information gathered in this population-based survey may be used to facilitate national eye-care planning and provide a baseline for comparison with rates of lens wear found in other countries and in future surveys.
Lee
Y C
YC
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Lim
C W
CW
Saw
S M
SM
Koh
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity