title: Dry eye in contact lens wearers as a growing public health problem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between the self-reported symptoms and objective signs of dry eye disease in long-term rigid gas-permeable (RGP) or soft contact lens (SCL) wearers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 84 eyes of Caucasian RGP and SCL wearers between the age of 15 and 71 who wore contact lenses on a continuous daily basis for more than 1 year. Symptoms were assessed according to the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Clinical assessments included corneal fluorescein staining according to the National Eye Institute (NEI) staining grid and tear film break-up time (TBUT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were more female (76.19%) than male (23.81%) persons with a higher proportion of RGP wearers among the females (88.89% vs. 11.11%). The mean duration of daily lens wear was 7.71±2.72 hours. No RGP wearer in this study had a NEI corneal staining grid score higher than 2. A weak negative correlation was found between daily lens wear duration and TBUT (Pearson's coefficient, r=-0.1467). A strong negative correlation was found between TBUT and OSDI values (r=-0.844).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study emphasize the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of dry eye disease for successful long term RGP and SCL contact lens wear. This will hopefully motivate future larger scale investigations on dry eye related problems in contact lens wearers.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, Zagrebačka cesta 5, 10410 Velika Gorica, Croatia, kristijan.pili@vvg.hr.
authors.forename: Kristijan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pili
authors.forename: Snježana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaštelan
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabatić
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasun
authors.forename: Borna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Čulig