Do the economic and social factors play an important role in relation to the compliance of contact lenses care routines?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the behavior of contact lens wearers of distinct economic and social groups in relation to their contact lens care routines.


METHODS
The authors studied 60 patients of distinct social groups at the same Contact Lens Department at Sorocaba Eye Hospital in Sorocaba, Brazil. The patients were divided in two groups. Group 1 included 31 patients who could not pay for medical assistance and were in the Government Health Assistance Program. Group 2 included 29 patients who had health insurance and patients paying for medical assistance. We studied their age, sex, period of contact lens wear, and type of contact lenses that they were wearing and related these variables to the contact lens care routines.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to their contact lens care routines.


CONCLUSIONS
Social factors do not seem to be the most important factor in the compliance of contact lens care routines.
de Andrade Sobrinho
Marcelo Vicente
MV
Contact Lens Department, Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. marcelosobrinho@terra.com.br
Carvalho
Rejane Aires
RA
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000523:psychology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011482:Protective Devices; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D018639:Contact Lens Solutions