Lindsay Paquette, OD is a research associate at the Centre for Contact Lens Research, University of Waterloo, Canada. She also works as an optometrist at a local clinic.Download the poster, which was originally shared at the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting, 2011.
Lindsay Paquette, Debbie Jones, Megan Despres, Krithika Nandakumar, Craig Woods
Center for Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo
Purpose: To determine the ease with which children and youths with no previous contact lens experience are able to handle, care for, and be fit with soft contact lenses (SCLs).
Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight children aged 8 to 16 years old were recruited and categorized into three groups by age: Group 1 (8 to 10 yrs), Group 2 (11 to 13 yrs) and Group 3 (14 to 16 yrs). Soft contact lenses were fit according to the manufacturer’s guidelines (lotrafilcon B). The study involved initial screening visit to determine eligibility, fitting visit, and training visit (a second visit was booked if needed). At the training visit, handling and cleaning instructions were provided and each child demonstrated competency. The time taken to complete this visit was recorded. A follow up visit to assess lens use occurred after one week.
Results: Group 1 consisted of 34 children (17F, 17M) with a mean age 9.6±0.6 yrs. Group 2, 66 (39F, 27M) mean age of 12.0±0.87 yrs. Group 3, 68 (42 F, 26 M) mean age of 14.8±0. 7yrs. The maximum number of soft contact lenses to determine fit per eye was two, with 99.5% of eyes requiring only one. The time taken to complete the training visit was: Group 1, mean 34±19 minutes (5 to 90 minutes), median 30 minutes. Group 2, mean 28±11 minutes (8 to 55 minutes), median 25 minutes. Group 3, mean 28±16 minutes (5 to 80 minutes), median 25 minutes. Nine children (3F, 6M) required a second instruction visit, with a mean time of 48±15 minutes (20 to 72 minutes), median 47 minutes. There were no statistically significant differences for the number of lenses to fit or the soft contact lens instruction time by age groups (p>0.05) or for gender (p>0.05). At or before the one-week visit, 22 children had lost soft contact lenses (13%), while six had ripped/torn their soft contact lens (3.6%). Seven (4.2%) discontinued, four (2.4%) during the training visit and three (1.8%) within the first week of wear due to difficulty handling or inserting lenses.
Conclusion: The vast majority of children are easily fit with soft contact lenses and require only one instruction visit. Generally, only one lens was required to achieve an adequate fit, only 5.4% of children required a second training visit and 6% experienced a lens loss or tear during the first week of wear.
Study sponsored by CIBA VISION
