How Can We Better Inform Patients of the Importance of Contact Lens Compliance?: Current Perspectives

Introduction

Poor compliance with contact lens wear has long been known as a factor in contact lens complications.^1–4 Contact lenses and contact lens solutions are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America and by other government bodies throughout the world.⁵ Packaging of drugs and devices requires inserts with information for proper use of these products, and various health and eye care professional organizations around the world have published guidelines for safe contact lens care.^6–10 Additionally, eye care practitioners have a role in ensuring new and existing lens wearers are aware of proper contact lens care practices in order to minimize risks associated with lens wear. Despite the availability of this information and the education provided to patients, non-compliance with contact lens wear persists, and numerous studies have explored the behavior of contact lens wearers and the implications of non-compliance on ocular health. While all types of contact lenses require proper hygiene, different contact lenses require different care regimens and replacement schedules and may have differing consequences if wearers are not compliant with these instructions. The following manuscript is a narrative review of articles published on contact lens compliance for different modalities of lenses. References were found by searching PubMed for “contact lens compliance” and “patient education techniques contact lenses” The initial search was completed on April 26, 2024, and included 464 articles. Articles that were specific to contact lens compliance and education regarding contact lens compliance were included in this review. Additional articles were found in the references of these articles. This exploration of contact lens wear compliance and non-compliance delves into the elements that play a role in proper contact lens wear and complications that arise as a result of non-compliance with these elements of care. Strategies for improving compliance with contact lens wear are also presented based upon research in this area.

Universal Elements of Proper Contact Lens Care

Hand Hygiene

Proper contact lens care begins with hand washing. Hand hygiene is a compliance issue that impacts every contact lens wearer, regardless of lens design or style of wear. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of handwashing, and numerous health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) promote alcohol-based hand sanitizer and handwashing with soap.^11–13 For contact lens wearers, however, hand washing with soap is preferable since hand sanitizers contain alcohol that can contaminate lenses.^14,15 Hands should be washed with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds, followed by rinsing well and drying thoroughly.¹⁶ Water temperature does not affect the effectiveness, and hot water should be avoided, as it can be more irritating to skin.^12,17,18

Overall compliance with hand washing before lens handling has varied widely, with one study finding only 16% of study participants reported “always” or “frequently” washing hands before lens use;¹⁹ three studies reporting 39.2%, 40% and 48% compliance with hand washing,^20–22 and fifteen other studies showing compliance from 67.6% to 100% of study participants.^23–37 Several studies have rates of participants who reporting rarely or never washing hands before lens handling, with three studies finding rates less than 5%,^24,35,36 and one study reporting a rate of an alarming 63.3%.¹⁹ Table 1 presents a summary of studies that have reported on general hand washing habits related to contact lens wear.

Table 1 General Handwashing Compliance Assessment Research Summary

Additionally, studies have shown that hand washing is more likely before lens application than before lens removal.^38–48 Studies that specifically asked lens wearers about washing hands with soap before lens application/removal found disparities in rates of compliance of 56%/51%; 67%/59%; and 70%/50%.^44–46 Studies have reported rates from 5.5% to 31% participants reporting they “do not always” or “never” wash hands with soap before handling lenses.^{39,41,46,49–51} Table 2 presents a summary of studies related to compliance with hand washing that specifically surveyed participants on timing of hand washing and how they define “washing” their hands before handling lenses.

Table 2 Handwashing Survey Results for Specific Questions About Handwashing Related to Contact Lens Wear and Care

Lack of proper handwashing before handling contact lenses is a known risk factor for microbial keratitis and non-ulcerative keratitis.^3,46 A study by Morgan found a 4.5x greater risk of contact lens associated infections in study participants who did not wash hands.²⁰ A study by Lim found a 13x increased risk of microbial keratitis infection in study participants who did not wash hands before handling their lenses.⁵³ Consequences of handwashing non-compliance is not limited to reusable lenses. Handwashing before lens handling, even when wearing single-use lenses, decreases the risk of moderate to severe microbial keratitis by 50%.⁵⁴

Exposure to Water

FDA guidelines instruct patients to avoid exposing contact lenses to any water.⁹ In 2019, a task force convened to investigate contact lens-related microbial keratitis and advised that patients “eliminate all tap water” in lens care.⁵⁵ Studies have also reported that 11.2% to 52.4% of patients fail to completely dry hands which exposes lenses to tap water.^{39,49,50,52,56} Additional water exposure can occur when patients clean storage cases with tap water, which has been reported at rates of 25.6% to 72%.^{1,29,40,41,45,49,51,57} Using water to clean soft lenses has been reported by up to 31% of wearers.^{19,26,30,35,36,38,41,43,46,48,56,58} This behavior has been reported even more frequently in rigid lens wearers, at rates as high as 91%.^26,29,58

Water exposure occurs with lens wear during bathing or showering. Studies have reported contact lens wear during showering at rates from 12.8% to 86.5%.^{29,35,38,43,49,56,59–61} Swimming and water sports during lens wear are known areas of contact lens non-compliance, occurring in both pools and natural bodies of water. Although wearing goggles or using daily disposable lenses might lessen associated risks,⁶² many patients do neither.^22,37,56 Reports of swimming while wearing lenses has varied from 4.1% to 68.1%.^{22,23,26,35,37,38,43,47,56,61}

Interestingly, patients with medical experience who should be fully aware of the hazards of exposing contact lenses to water are reported to be non-compliant with their own lens wear. A 2017 study surveyed ophthalmologists, healthcare workers, and age-matched laypeople, and found that 52%, 50% and 61.6% exposed their own contact lenses to water, respectively.²⁵ Sapkota noted similar water exposure between physicians (94.9%) and people without a medical background (96.2%).⁶³

Water exposure can adversely affect contact lens wearers due to its common microbial contaminants. One study found that showering while wearing lenses daily increased the risk of microbial keratitis 7x compared to compliant contact lens wearers.⁶⁴ Acanthamoeba are opportunistic, free-living protozoa that exist in water, including household tap water, bodies of fresh and salt water, spas, tap water, and even distilled water.^65,66 These opportunistic microbes can cause infections in all humans but are more likely to infect contact lens wearers and people who are immunocompromised.⁶⁵ Mechanisms of infection of the eye by acanthamoeba generally starts at the epithelial cells, and can infiltrate the cell level by an abrasion or cells which have become damaged by other mechanisms, like hypoxia induced by sleeping in lenses.⁶⁷ Infection of the eye by acanthamoeba is painful and visually devastating, often resulting in scarring and blindness.⁶⁸ Due to the severity of these infections, prevention of water exposure to eyes, contact lenses, and contact lens products is important.

Additionally, water can harbor bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, another common cause of microbial keratitis.⁵⁶ Furthermore, the endotoxins produced by gram-negative bacteria are believed to cause corneal infiltrative events.⁶⁹ A study in Japan found that a major cause of contact lens associated infections that caused severe vision loss, perforation of the cornea, or required surgical intervention were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acanthamoeba.⁷⁰

Lens Care Products

Case Replacement and Hygiene

Practitioners worldwide recognize the importance of case hygiene and replacement in wearers of reusable contact lenses. The British Contact Lens Association advises case replacement at least monthly, while several US and an Australian organization advise replacing lenses at least every 3 months.^6–8,10,71 Manufacturers including a case with a bottle of solution make using a new case straightforward, although studies have found only 36.4% and 42.1% of study participants reported replacing their case replacement upon opening a new bottle of solution.^40,49

Because recommended replacement schedules for contact lens cases vary among these international organizations, it is not surprising that studies have found differences in replacement schedules by patients. Two studies asked lens wearers if they replace their lens cases monthly, which likely reflects the replacement recommendations of their geographic area, finding rates of >50% and 90.9% compliance.^38,47 Lower rates of monthly case replacement were found in a majority of studies, ranging from 9% to 48.9%.^{1,32,37,40,42,43,45,48–51,60,72} Percentages are higher in studies which asked participants if they replaced contact lens cases within 1 to 3 months of first use, with reported rates ranging from 24.5% to 90.2%.^{1,19,29,30,36,40,42–45,48,49,51,59–61,72,73} Studies have found rates from 2.8% to 20% of people surveyed reporting that they never replace their contact lens case.^{1,40,42,45,49–51,72,73} Worse still are patients who neither clean nor replace their cases, as 9.1% of subjects reported in a study by Cardona.⁴⁰

Replacement is important because used contact lens cases have been found to harbor microbes known to cause ocular infection, including acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi.^2,74,75 A study by Kuzman examined contamination of contact lens cases and found that the insides of the cases which were used less than 3 months did not find bacteria when cultured.⁶¹ Although other non-compliance behaviors beyond age of a case can play a role in case contamination, completely replacing a case assures that no previous contaminants can persist.⁶¹

Between replacements of cases, microbes that grow on the case surface can develop into a biofilm that enhances survival of unwanted pathogens.⁷⁶ Rinsing cases with disinfecting solution might offer slight antimicrobial benefit, but it is not effective in biofilm removal; removal of this biofilm is more effective with rubbing, either digitally or with a tissue, than rinsing alone.⁷⁷ Rubbing also helps to remove bacterial endotoxins. Drying the case after rubbing and disinfection is an important step. Rubbing the case dry with a tissue helps to lessen the adherence of Acanthamoeba.⁷⁸ Leaving the case open to completely air-dry is ideal, specifically with the wells face down to allow faster drying and to minimize contamination by airborne microbes.⁷⁹ This is particularly important if lens handling occurs in the bathroom, as this environment is often humid and exposes cases to the aerosol spread of microorganisms from toilets flushing.^79–81 Cases should be thoroughly cleaned using these steps each time lenses are worn, but compliance with this task is often quite poor. Daily cleaning of a case has been reported at rates from 14.3% to 57.9%.^{24,30,38,40,44–46,48} While some studies have found one third or less study participants reported storing their lens cases upside down with caps removed to dry during lens wear,^42,47,51 other studies report higher rates ranging from 40% to 85.9%.^25,27,45 Khoza found that 92% of subjects properly use solution, rubbing, and air-drying in case hygiene.³²

Various studies have discussed the role of bacterial biofilms on contact lenses and lens cases in relation to microbial keratitis.^82–84 Tilia reported contamination of 79% of all cases examined in a study when cases were collected after 1 month of use; significantly more cases were contaminated with gram negative bacteria among participants who reported exposure to tap water compared to participants who avoided water when cleaning lenses and cases.² A study of patients diagnosed with microbial keratitis found that the biofilm of contact lens cases showed greater bacterial contamination than the lenses themselves.⁸³ Of course, the use of cases necessitates the use of contact lens solution, which, if used incorrectly, can introduce additional sources of case contamination. These non-compliant factors and resulting complications are discussed in more detail in the following sections.

Contact Lens Solution Use

Studies of contact lens behaviors have found several ways in which contact lens solutions can be improperly used. Failure to rub and rinse lenses has been reported at rates ranging from 5% to 80% of participants in various contact lens studies.^{19–21,25,27,30,43,46–48,57,60,85} Adding additional solution to a case containing previously used solution, known as “topping off” instead of using new solution in a case each time lenses are stored has been found to varying degrees from 4% to <40%.^{19–21,22,26,28,29,37–40,43,46,48}

Consequences of improper contact lens solution use can cause devastating visual outcomes resulting from microbial keratitis. When “topping off” without cleaning and rubbing the case, any biofilm present from previous use remains intact while the previously used solution is mildly diluted with the newly added solution. A study found that risk factors for acanthamoeba keratitis among rigid gas permeable lens wearers included topping off solution, storing lenses in tap water, and sleeping in lenses.⁸⁶ A 2007 publication on an outbreak of acanthamoeba keratitis in Chicago found that ‘topping off’ solution was a factor that was associated with these infections.⁶⁸ This outbreak was then investigated on a national level with similar findings, including ‘topping off’ as one of the matched factors found among patients with acanthamoeba.⁸⁷ Both of these studies also identified use of one particular contact lens solution, which has since been removed from the market, as a risk factor.^68,87 A large outbreak of fungal keratitis also occurred worldwide and was associated with a different multipurpose solution that was later pulled from the market.⁸⁸ In both of the solution outbreaks mentioned during this time, no contaminants were found in bottles of solution.⁸⁸ These outbreaks brought to light the variability of contact lens solutions in killing microbes and brought attention to the importance of rinsing and rubbing lenses to prevent contamination or contribution of microbes outside of a laboratory.⁸⁹ A study by Brown explored the time period after the two outbreaks mentioned above found that poor contact lens hygiene and “topping off” remain as causes for growth of Acanthamoeba.⁹⁰

Due to the increased risks shown when lens solutions and cases are added to soft lens wear, it is in the best interest of patients to switch to single-use lenses when possible, as they have lower rates of microbial and sterile keratitis compared to reusable lenses.⁹¹ Lens care solutions and cases introduce a risk to contact lenses wear, particularly if patients are non-compliant with lens hygiene.⁹¹

Contact Lens Replacement

Because contact lenses are a medical device, labelling of lenses includes a replacement schedule which has been tested in studies conducted during the FDA approval process. Despite the instructions for replacement, compliance with manufacturer recommended replacement frequency can vary widely among users, with reports ranging from 25% to 87%.^{19–22,30,32,36,41,46,48,61,73}

Studies of compliance have found that wearers are more compliant with some replacement modalities than others. The greatest compliance with prescribed lens replacement is found with single-use, or daily disposable lenses. Compliance with daily replacement of single-use lenses has been reported at rates of 49.3% to 95%.^{35,42,50,51,72,73,92–94} Compliance with correct replacement of monthly reusable soft lenses is lower, with reported at rates of 30.9% to 78%.^{1,35,42,50,51,72,73,94,95} Compliance with the replacement of 2-week lenses is worse yet, with rates of 18% to 59%.^{1,35,42,45,51,72,73,94,95}

This issue can be further complicated by practitioners who prescribe replacement at intervals other than what is advised by the manufacturer, which has been reported most for 2-week lenses and least for daily disposables.^1,72 Rueff noted that 23.2% of participants reported a replacement schedule that differed from manufacturer guidelines; this equated to 46.7% of 2-week lens wearers, 5.9% of monthly lens wearers, and no single-use lens wearers.⁷³ Dumbleton reported altered replacement schedules prescribed for those lens modalities respectively of 35%, 9.6%, and 5.9% in Canada and 18.7%, 18.3%, and 4.0% in the United States.⁷² In another investigation Dumbleton noted Canadian practitioners changing the replacement frequency for 2-week lenses and monthly lenses in 50.0% and 9.4% of patients respectively.¹

Internationally, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, including corneal, scleral and orthokeratology lenses, compose 15.3% of lens fittings.⁹⁶ Replacement of these lenses is more individualized, considering wearer characteristics, lens material, and eye care practitioner judgement. Lenses should be replaced frequently enough to avoid significant depositing, lens surface or edge damage, and alterations in oxygen permeability that would compromise eye health.⁹⁷ Rigid lenses deteriorate with age to differing degrees, with low Dk materials tending to have the longest lifespan. Jones evaluated low Dk (≤40), mid Dk (41–90), and high Dk (≥90) RGP lenses, finding that the mean lens life was 20 months, 16 months, and 9 months, respectively.⁹⁸

Given the more individualized prescribing of rigid lens replacement, few studies have evaluated patient compliance in this regard. Barisic-Kutija reported 96% compliance with RGP replacement when the replacement interval was considered to be 3 years.²⁹

Noncompliance with lens replacement schedules is more difficult to link to a specific consequence. A study by Dumbleton found that lens wearers who did not replace their lenses as recommended were more likely to be noncompliant in other lens care behaviors.¹ The same study found trends of more serious ocular complications occurring to those who did not follow replacement schedules compared to those who followed the schedule correctly. A study by Yeung also found more complications per eye - including giant papillae conjunctivitis, injection, corneal staining, infiltrates, and ulcers - in those who overwore their lenses by 3x the recommended replacement time compared to those who discarded lenses as recommended.⁹⁴

Sleeping in Lenses

Contact lenses for daily wear are considered a class II medical device by the FDA, while lenses approved for extended wear or continuous wear are class III devices due to the high risks involved when lenses are worn overnight.⁹⁹ Daily wear contact lens wearers are cautioned not to sleep in lenses. Even so, many wearers nap or sleep in lenses, with reported rates of 0.7% to 69% in various studies.^{1,19–23,25–30,32–35,38,41–44,46,48–52,57,61,73,92,}

Interestingly, the occurrence of nonprescribed overnight wear has been reported at similar rates among daily disposable, 2-week replacement, and monthly replacement soft lens wearers.⁷³ Of the 23.9% of subjects who reported overnight wear noncompliance, 15% wore a daily disposable lens. This was found to be true of 37% of daily disposable wearers in another study; 56% of those noncompliant subjects reported overnight wear of once a week or more.⁹² Table 3 summarizes the findings of the studies related to compliance with not sleeping while wearing lenses.

Wearing soft or rigid contact lenses overnight increases the risk of microbial keratitis in lens wearers.¹⁰⁰ Overnight wearers of soft hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses respectively have been found to occur in 20–25 of 10,000 lens wearers.¹⁰¹ This is a higher risk than the 1.9–2.2 in 10,000 incidence of microbial keratitis found in daily wear of soft lenses.¹⁰¹

Table 3 Summary of Study Results Related to Compliance with Not Sleeping While Wearing Contact Lenses

Orthokeratology requires overnight wear of lenses which is unavoidable. The overall incidence of microbial keratitis with orthokeratology is 7.7 per 10,000, which reaches a slightly higher rate of 13.9 per 10,000 when only considering children.¹⁰² No prospective studies have been able to capture an incidence of microbial keratitis in scleral lens wear for daily wear or overnight wear, although a retrospective study estimated a rate of 45 cases per 10,000 for daily wear.¹⁰³ Many scleral lens wearers require these lenses for correction of irregular corneas and/or ocular surface disease, and the benefits outweigh the risks, although all patients should be made aware of the risks and subsequent need for compliant lens wear. A small study with 4 subjects wearing scleral lenses overnight found increased swelling of the cornea due to hypoxia, but concluded that overnight wear with a scleral lens should not be ruled out if the benefit of overnight therapeutic wear, which is typically reserved for severe ocular surface disease, is greater than the hypoxic effect induced.¹⁰⁴

Other Lens Care Considerations

Use of Makeup and Beauty Products

Compliance with recommendations regarding beauty product use with contact lenses is less documented in the literature than other behaviors. Two studies reported compliance rates of 37.4% and 58.7% with applying makeup after lens insertion.^32,49 No mention was found in the literature of compliance with other products, such as makeup removers and beauty creams. There is also a paucity of information on patients removing makeup after lens removal, using hypoallergenic products safe for lens wearers, avoiding oil-containing products near the eyes, avoiding mascara with fibers that can flake into eyes, and replacing cosmetics regularly.

It is important that eye care practitioners educate patients on cosmetic use, as studies have found that users of cosmetics like eyeliner and mascara have greater tear film instability and meibomian gland changes when compared to non-make up wearers.^105,106 Eye care practitioners teaching proper makeup usage with contact lens wearers may be in competition with cosmetic companies who instruct wearers of eyeliner, to use waterproof products that will adhere to the “waterline” which is the terminology used to describe the area inside the eyelashes where the meibomian glands are present. Covering the meibomian glands is hypothesized to obstruct the glands, which could lead to structural changes or long-term dysfunction, leading to eventual evaporative dry eye.¹⁰⁷

Wearing Time

Specific hours of lens wear are not typically published in contact lens guidelines, although practitioners may recommend a lens wear schedule for patients. One report defined successful daily lens wear as 12 hours per day, 6 days a week for both soft and rigid gas permeable lenses.¹⁰⁸ Kuzman found that daily wear exceeding 12 hours was a positive predictor of microbial contamination of both the inside and rims of case wells, suggesting that 12 hours may be the “upper limit for safe contact lens wear”.⁶¹

Unfortunately, patients often continue to wear lenses after comfort has declined.⁷² Increased wear time has been associated with less compliant behavior in lens wearers. It has been linked to lower overall contact lens compliance, increased lens exposure to water, and more sleeping in lenses.^{25,27,29,3035,36} Not surprisingly then, excessive wearing time can also result in increased likelihood of complications. Increases in hyperemia and bulbar and palpebral conjunctival inflammation over the course of the day are recognized signs that may be an immune response to contact lens intolerance.¹⁰⁹ A study by Papas replaced soft lenses after 10 hours of wear with a new lens and found that comfort was not improved with lens replacement, which implies that declining comfort over the day is best solved by removing lenses completely.¹¹⁰ Some guides for soft contact lens care suggest that lenses should be removed for the day when uncomfortable.⁶

Implications of wear time of wearers of rigid lens materials may exceed increasing discomfort over the day.¹⁰⁰ Wearers of scleral lenses often experience midday fogging, which necessitates lens removal, cleaning, refilling with non-preserved saline, and reapplication in order to see clearly.^111–113 Because scleral lenses are often fit for therapeutic reasons, these wearers may not be able to shorten their wear time, as they require lenses in order to have functional vision. In these situations, wearers should report their lens wear experiences to their eye care practitioners to make sure that any blur or discomfort issues are not related to hypoxia.¹¹⁴

Predictability of Compliance

Investigators have tried to elucidate which patients are most likely to be compliant. This issue is confounded by contact lens regulations that vary across the globe, with some nations not requiring a prescription for lens purchases.⁹⁹ Rates of contact lens-related microbial keratitis are higher in markets without required prescriptions.⁹⁹ Contact lens wearers who do not complete annual contact lens follow-ups were found to have greater ocular complications than those who do not follow the prescribed annual visits.¹¹⁵ Asymptomatic contact lens wearers returning for an annual visit to renew their contact lens prescriptions were found to have numerous complications related to ocular heath, contact lens related fit issues, and non-compliance in a large retrospective study at two large eye clinics.¹¹⁶ Studies comparing age and gender have found conflicting results.^{19–22,24–27,29,30,34,35,38–40,43,48,73,93,94} Numerous investigators have found compliance to lessen with greater years of contact lens wear. Two studies found that compliance was better in those wearing lenses less than 5 years or ≤ 5 years compared to those with a longer history of lens wear.^35,57 Two studies have found that water exposure with contact lenses is statistically more likely in those with a longer history of lens wear.^38,44 Dumbleton found that patients noncompliant with lens replacement had worn lenses longer than those who were compliant.¹ Conversely, several other studies found no link between years of lens wear and compliance.^{25,27,29,40,73}

The number of hours of lens wear each day might be a better indicator of the likelihood of compliance. Two studies found improved compliance with study participants who wear lenses <8 hours and <14 hours a day.^29,35 Similarly, three other studies have likewise noted that poorer compliance is associated with longer wear times during a day.^25,27,36 Poorer compliance has also been associated with wearing lenses more days each week. Supiyaphun noted less compliance if lenses are worn more than 5 days a week, and Morgan agreed that part-time wearers had fewer noncompliant behaviors even after accounting for their higher use of daily disposable lenses.^20,36

Discussion

There are many reasons for patient noncompliance with contact lens wear. Human behavior is imperfect. Enhancing compliance with proper lens wear is difficult if patients do not even recognize that a behavior is noncompliant. Studies show a discrepancy between a patient’s perceived compliance with proper lens wear and that individual’s actual compliance. Bui found that 86% of subjects believed themselves compliant; in actuality, 32% of subjects had good compliance, which was defined as 90% or greater correct lens care behaviors.²⁶ Robertson et al found that 85% of subjects perceived they had compliant behavior, but less than 5% were assessed to have good compliance.³³ A study by Gyawali et al found that 90% of participants believed themselves to be “good” or “average” lens wearers, but high rates of non-compliant behaviors were also reported, leaving investigators questioning whether the participants were unaware of proper care, or if the poor behavior was due to personal negligence.²² The disconnect between wearer knowledge of proper lens wear practices and wearer behavior should be taken into consideration when determining how to improve lens wearer behavior. Although two studies reported finding no correlation between knowledge of proper lens care and wearer behavior,^36,57 it has been reported that participants with increased frequency of sleeping in contact lenses, exposing lenses to water, and infrequent case replacement, were unaware of the risks of these behaviors.³⁵ Thirty percent of contact lens wearers in a 2003 survey felt inadequately prepared regarding lens care, indicating a potential lack of understanding and knowledge.¹¹⁷ In fact, it has been noted that 74% of noncompliant patients were completely unaware that their behavior practices were problematic.¹¹⁸ It appears that patients are unintentionally misusing their lenses due to factors such as misunderstanding, forgetfulness, poor explanations by the provider, and inadequate information. This is of no surprise considering previous reports document patients forget as much as 50% of presented medical education within minutes of leaving a medical visit.¹¹⁹ The retention of medical recommendations is believed to depend on the doctor–patient relationship and repetition, and any measures that improve these two factors should help in improving compliance.¹¹⁹ Additionally, shorter periods of instruction have been shown to improve the percentage of material remembered by patients.¹²⁰

As our understanding of risks expands, it is necessary to change guidelines to address new information. However, patients who have not experienced consequences from their past behaviors may be resistant to change. One example of this is the change in recommendations with water usage and rigid contact lens care over the past three decades. Rigid lens products initially included instructions to use water to rinse cleaner from the lenses, and these labels persisted with some products even after the risks of doing so were well established.¹²¹ Although tap water is better at rinsing cleaners from a rigid lens surface than saline, the associated risks preclude use of water.¹²² The longstanding use of water to care for rigid lenses may be a difficult compliance issue to overcome. Steele noted 57.4% of practitioners from across the globe using water in rigid lens care in office, although only 32.7% did so in front of patients.¹²³ The survey participants who rinsed with tap water assigned less risk to water-associated behaviors than participants who did not rinse with water. This discrepancy in perceived risk is also more common among patients who use water during lens care.⁵⁸ In the early 2000s contact lens solutions approved by the FDA were widely marketed as “no-rub” multipurpose solutions.¹²⁴ The FDA changed its recommendation in 2009 and now instructs users to rub reusable lenses.¹²⁴ It is possible that contact lens wearers during that time adopted habits of not rubbing their lenses and have continued to do so, despite solution bottles no longer having the words “no-rub” on their labels. It is important to teach lens wearers proper compliance guidelines when they begin lens wear, and to make a routine of updating lens wearers at annual exams on the latest guidelines.

Why are wearers noncompliant with replacement schedules? Some patients may misconstrue or be confused about advised replacement frequency. Others do so intentionally, with 3–9.3% saying the behavior was approved by their eye care provider.^19,72 More common reasons for this behavior include forgetting when to replace lenses (18.5–53%), forgetting to order needed contact lenses (11–22.2%), or trying to save money by purchasing fewer lenses, as reported by 14.8–32% of lens wearers in various studies.^1,19,42,72 Other common reasons for non-compliance with contact lens care include complexity of care procedures, poor understanding of instructions, strained patient-practitioner relationships, time constraints, cost, and forgetfulness.^{36,38,119,125} Furthermore, factors such as age, educational attainment, and living arrangements affect compliance but are challenging to modify. Living environment complexities, for example may not be perceived as actionable by patients or known by practitioners, necessitating discussions between the practitioner and the lens wearer, in order to make tailored, practical advice from providers possible.¹²⁶

Current Techniques for Improving Compliance

The findings presented above show that non-compliant contact lens behavior is common, although not always intentional. To determine how to improve patient compliance, it is beneficial to explore techniques used in patient education that have been successful to date and understand how patients best learn new information. For example, average learning retention rates for different kinds of teaching vary from approximately 5% for a lecture, 10% for reading once, 20% for a demonstration, 30% for a discussion group, 75% for practice by doing and 90% for teaching others.¹²⁷ Combining teaching methods, especially incorporating practice by doing, can enhance learning outcomes, though it requires additional time. Hibbard et al found that engaged patients are curious about their health situation and feel accountable concerning their health care; thus, they may pay additional attention to information related to their health situation.¹²⁸ Patient attitude toward compliance may be helped by information which explains why compliant procedures are necessary for long-term success¹²⁹ Strategies practitioners can consider when striving to improve patient compliance are presented below.

Improving Contact Lens Care Compliance

1. Patient-Practitioner Communication: There is a need for clearer, more patient-centered communication between eye care providers and patients. This includes using simple language, visual aids (eg, infographics and videos), and providing actionable feedback.¹²⁶ Communication with patients should be easy to understand, repetitive, and specific; minimize jargon; and check for patient understanding in order to ensure patient comprehension.^129–132 Written materials should be presented clearly, ideally at an eighth-grade reading level, and should complement verbal instructions.^133,134 Similarly, educational information should be adapted to the patients’ level of understanding and delivered in various formats, including printed handouts and electronic communications, to reinforce key messages.^129,135,136 Health care recommendations that are presented clearly and simply, are of short duration, and include the positive effects on quality of life are related to good compliance levels.¹³⁷Moreover, using relatable and empathetic communication enhances the practitioner-patient relationship, and building a strong relationship can enhance compliance. A higher intensity of practitioner involvement was found to be related to a greater level of patient compliance.⁴ Thompson et al discovered a direct correlation between the communication skills of the practitioner and the degree of compliance of his or her patients.¹³⁸ Empathetically relating to a patient’s lens use with reference to a practitioner’s own lens wearing and handling experiences can improve the practitioner/patient relationship. Lack of contact can weaken the influence of practitioner instructions, especially when patients are exposed to alternative sources of advice.¹³⁹ Compliance appears to be improved if information is presented in a manner that explains the contact lens instructions in a positive and enthusiastic manner.^126,140 Nonverbal communication, such as attentive listening and eye contact, also contributes to patient satisfaction.^141,142 Lastly, addressing specific patient needs and risk factors, such as living condition, personality,¹⁴³ and age, can help tailor educational efforts more effectively and improve compliance.¹³¹
2. Patient Education and Reinforcement: One-time instructions are often insufficient due to the amount of information needed by first-time wearers and the likelihood of forgetting some or all of it; additionally lack of reinforcement is a major barrier to compliance.^139,144,145 Ongoing education and reinforcement, including follow-up visits and virtual reminders, are crucial for improving compliance.¹⁴⁶ Practitioners should emphasize the importance of follow-up examinations and regularly reinforce lens care and wearing schedules at each visit.^38,53,126 Giving examples may be effective, such as explaining to patients that a study found that contact lens wear without annual follow-up visits was a predictor of eye complications when compared to contact lens wear with contact lens annual visits.¹¹⁵ Technicians involved in patient education should undergo ongoing training and certification to ensure they also provide effective instruction.^119,132 Regular aftercare appears to be necessary for maintaining compliance and for having the opportunity to modify behavior and eliminate non-compliance.¹⁴¹ A 2007 study by Yung found that thorough explanation of lens care procedures both initially and at a 6-month follow up appointment enhanced participant compliance with overall proper lens-related behaviors, while adding quarterly compliance exercises sent by email only further improved compliance with case hygiene.¹⁴⁷Although contact lens wearers may have a history of non-compliance with one or multiple aspects of lens care, continued, repeated emphasis of key items may still improve compliance.^{37,72,129,148} Incorporating practical demonstrations and ongoing reinforcement through multiple formats (verbal, written, pictorial) can be helpful. One study found providing supplemental compliance commentary during insertion and removal training helped rationalize each of the recommended steps and raised both patient understanding of hygienic practices and overall compliance.¹³⁹ Employing strategies that address patients’ learning retention issues, such as practical demonstrations and regular follow-ups, can help ensure that contact lens care instructions are understood and followed effectively.
3. Behavioral and Attitudinal Change: Compliance issues often stem from misunderstandings or lack of awareness, and practitioners often fall victim to blaming the patient for non-compliance rather than listening to patients and trying to understanding the underlying reasons for their behaviors.⁹³ Emphasizing the benefits of correct lens care and providing practical, step-by-step instructions can help.⁹³ Patients may benefit from understanding the reasons behind recommended practices and seeing practical demonstrations.¹²⁰ Overemphasizing infection risks may be less effective due to their current lower prevalences.¹⁴⁹ Instead, focusing on discomfort, dryness, and cosmetic issues like redness may be more motivating for maintaining hygiene practices.¹⁴⁹ Eye care providers should continue to educate the public, stakeholders, and legislators about the medical nature of contact lenses, the importance of proper fitting, and the need for follow-up care to help behaviors and attitudes improve globally.¹¹⁹
4. System and Safeguards: All patients may exhibit non-compliance, and no single patient characteristic can predict non-compliance reliably.^119,139 Even established wearers are not necessarily compliant and should be reminded of proper lens care at a minimum on an annual basis.¹³² Compliance with contact lens care is influenced by multiple factors, including education and the complexity of care regimens. Simplified care regimens and redundant safeguards are necessary to ensure patient safety and adherence to recommended lens care routines. Systems should incorporate redundancies to minimize risks even when patients may not fully adhere to instructions. Practitioners should actively engage with patients, provide repeated and varied educational inputs, and address non-compliance issues promptly.⁴ Both patients and professionals need to better recognize and understand specific non-compliance issues and their consequences to improve patient education and adherence.²⁹
5. Role of Social and Educational Tools: When prescribing contact lenses, utilizing only verbal and written education strategies are not sufficient in meeting patient educational needs.¹³³ Although nothing can replace in-person education, utilizing social media, email, and patient portals for ongoing education and reminders can enhance adherence.¹³⁶ Email can be a more efficient and cost-effective method for sending reminders and educational materials compared to traditional hard copies.¹²⁹ Reducing information overload by presenting instructions at the initial visit and using email for lens care reminders can help better manage patient compliance over time.^60,139,149 Other reports recommend supplying education materials on a company website, if available, to provide patients with an additional source of information accessible without the need for in-person contact.¹³³Additionally, infographics and pictograms are particularly useful for improving comprehension,¹⁵⁰ especially among patients with lower literacy levels.¹²⁶ Providing written instructions reinforces verbal education and improves patient compliance. Delp and Jones discovered that patients who had received information by means of cartoon illustrations were more prone to read the instructions, understand what was expressed, and most importantly, comply with the given instructions.¹⁵¹ Similar findings were encountered by Michielutte et al when comparing information given in narrative style plain bullet-type sentences versus illustrated texts.¹⁵² Moreover, detailed and well-designed leaflets are preferred by patients for clarity and usability,¹⁵³ and an integrated booklet with warnings adjacent to relevant procedural steps and rationale produced the best compliance rates among users.⁴ Effective communication between optometrists and patients is crucial, and incorporating new strategies, like multimedia messages, can enhance patient compliance and reduce complications. Social media is available to everyone, including non-experts. Having a presence online for patients to visit, especially when posting friendly messages about proper lens care and reasons for compliance could combat the misinformation that is so widely available to patients every time they are online.

By addressing these areas, eye care professionals can improve patient understanding, adherence, and overall safety in contact lens use, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and reduced risk of complications. Applying structured, repeatable education and reinforcement strategies can significantly enhance patient engagement and compliance. By using in-person discussions during exams - partnered with paper, digital, and multi-media materials - practitioners can communicate in a way that resonates with patients.

Conclusion

Compliance with proper contact lens behaviors is critical to successful contact lens wear. Consequences of poor compliance are many, ranging from mild discomfort to sight-threatening ocular sequelae. Presented herein are suggestions to prevent these complications and promote better compliance.