Comparative Knowledge and Behavior of Contact Lens Care between Medical and Non-Medical Students
Supinda Leeamornsiri MD*, Yothin Titawattanakul MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Ophthalmology, Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand
Objective : To compare knowledge and behavior of contact lens care between medical and non-medical students.
Material and Method: Cross sectional study. Participants consisted of 200 medical students (M) and 200 non-medical
students (N) who wore contact lenses within the recent one year. A structured questionnaire was filled in by subjects.
Results : Approximately 50% of participants had been contact lens wearers for less than one year. The purposes of wearing
lenses included vision correction (73.6%) and cosmetic (26.4%). Non-medical students wore color lenses significantly more
than medical students. Non-medical students bought lenses from internet and markets significantly more than medical
students did. For the knowledge component, the contact lens-related complications which participants can name were
significantly different in both groups including allergic conjunctivitis (M: 73.2%, N: 61.3%), corneal abrasion (M: 58%, N:
36.7%), corneal ulcer (M: 61.6%, N: 45.7%), and corneal neovascularization (M: 29.8%, N: 18%). The behavior that
participants had differed significantly in both groups were included rinsing lenses with tap water (M: 19.7%, N: 29.8%), and
washing hands before handling lenses (M: 82.7%, N: 71%). The five common improper behaviors of lens care were similar
in both groups and included wearing lenses longer than recommended, not changing lens storage solution daily, swimming
while wearing lenses, using tap water for rising lenses and not washing hands before handling lenses.
Conclusion : Medical students had better knowledge and behavior of contact lens care than non-medical students. However,
both groups of students still lacked adequate knowledge and were non-compliant with contact lens care instruction.
Keywords : Contact lens, Medical students, Non-medical students, Knowledge, Behavior
