Study finds strong contact lens hygiene habits but room for improved awareness of infection risks

Most young adults who wear contact lenses report good hygiene practices, yet knowledge gaps persist regarding serious complications such as microbial keratitis, according to a new cross-sectional survey of 434 users.

Most respondents were women (91%) and between the ages of 18 and 25 (57%). Nearly half wore lenses for cosmetic reasons, while just over one-quarter used them for vision correction. Soft daily-wear lenses were the most common type, and most participants reported wearing them 5-8 hours per day.

Overall, self-reported hygiene practices were high, with nearly 98% of respondents describing good habits. However, more than half said they do not routinely rub their lenses during cleaning. Awareness of microbial keratitis was reported by 74% of participants. Women and individuals who felt highly confident in their lens-care knowledge demonstrated better awareness levels.

Investigators noted that while hygiene adherence was encouraging, ongoing education is needed to reinforce proper cleaning techniques and raise awareness of microbial keratitis to further reduce preventable contact lens–related complications.

Reference
Al Balawi E, Salamah RB, Altamimi R, et al. A survey of contact lens users: Adherence to care guidelines and knowledge of microbial keratitis risk. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025;102516. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2025.102516. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41130898.