title: Contact lens compliance among a group of young, university-based lens users in South India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the rate of compliance with the soft contact lens care and maintenance procedures with a focus on contact lens wearing habits, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and maintenance of lens care accessories in a group of young, university-based contact lens wearers
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixteen young soft contact lens wearers with an age range of 18-22 years were selected conveniently from the student population of Manipal University, Manipal, India. After receiving informed consent from the participants, their level of compliance with contact lenses was assessed using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 21.86±2.35 years. Out of 216 subjects, only 34% of the lens users were identified to be compliant with the least level of compliance observed in the maintenance of lens care accessories. Conventional users showed significantly (p=0.001) better level of compliance compared to disposable wearers and so did the users who acquired their lenses from clinicians (p=0.001) compared to over-the-counter lens receipt. The gender (p=0.496) and years of experience in contact lens use (p=0.142) did not show any statistically significant difference in the level of compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that non-compliance with lens care procedures among a group of young, university-based soft contact lens wearers is common. The results indicated that all subjects had some degree of non-compliance and the least level of compliance observed in the care of lens accessories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University,Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Babu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noushad
authors.forename: Yeshwant
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saoji
authors.forename: Premjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhakat
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas