title: Non-compliance with lens care and maintenance in diabetic contact lens wearers.
abstract: We hypothesize that diabetic contact lens wearers may represent a special group displaying higher levels of compliance with their lens care regimens as a result of learned behaviour relating to maintenance of their diabetic condition. To test this hypothesis, a prospective, single centre, controlled, masked study was performed whereby 29 diabetic contact lens patients and 29 non-diabetic control subjects were issued with disposable hydrogel contact lenses and a multipurpose lens care regimen. All participants were given identical instruction on lens care and maintenance. Compliance levels were assessed at a 12-month aftercare appointment by demonstration and questionnaire. Twenty-four different aspects of compliance were scored, 12 by observation and 12 by questionnaire report, of which only two showed a significant difference between the diabetic and control groups. Although the combined population of contact lens wearers was generally compliant, there were examples of non-compliance in both groups. Neither the duration of diabetes nor the degree of metabolic control appeared to have a significant effect on compliance. The results suggest that eye care practitioners cannot assume that diabetic patients will be more compliant with contact lens care and maintenance than non-diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Contact Lens Research, Department of Optometry and Neuroscience, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK. clare.odonnell@umist.ac.uk
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Efron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal