A recent study examining contact lens use and hygiene among 434 participants found that while most users report good hygiene practices, awareness of microbial keratitis (MK)—a potentially serious eye infection—varies across groups.

The survey included primarily women (90.6%) and individuals aged 18 to 25. Nearly half used contact lenses for cosmetic reasons, while about a quarter wore them for vision correction. Most participants used soft lenses for 5 to 8 hours a day and had worn them for 1 to 5 years.

Although 97.9%  of respondents reported good hygiene practices, certain gaps persisted, such as failure to rub lenses during cleaning. About 73.5%  demonstrated adequate awareness of MK, with women showing higher awareness levels than men. A significant link was found between confidence in lens care knowledge and awareness of MK.

The researchers concluded that targeted education could improve understanding of contact lens hygiene and help prevent MK and related complications, even among users who already report strong hygiene habits.

AlBalawi E, Bin Salamah R, Altamimi R, AlSarhan R, Alyousef J. A survey of contact lens users: Adherence to care guidelines and knowledge of microbial keratitis risk. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025 Oct 22:102516. [Online ahead of print] doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2025.102516