Studying the prevalnce, habits and outcomes of using contact lenses among students in the Syrian Private University

Abstract

Abstract Background: The lack of sufficient research on wearing contact lenses, and the most common symptoms and complications that lens wearers complain about in the Arab world, and Syria in particular, despite their widespread use, is what prompted us to conduct this study. Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted on students at the Syrian Private University. Data was collected between 10/27/2022 and 4/7/2023, and we obtained 1,750 responses. After including only students who are still studying at the university and who wear contact lenses, we arrived at a sample of 500 students. Results: The study included 500 students. Females constituted most of the study sample (89%), compared to males (11%). The average age of the students was 22.41 years. Nonsmoking students constituted the largest percentage (43%), and most students reported that they did not work (81%). Human medicine students constituted the largest percentage of participating colleges (26%). More than half of students (65%) use lenses without a doctor's prescription. Most students wear lenses with both eyes (98%), compared to 2% who wear them with only one eye. The largest percentage of people wearing contact lenses was cosmetic (44%). Type of contact lenses used; the largest percentage was for flexible lenses (57%). The most common symptoms are dry eyes (58%), redness of the conjunctiva (36%), puffiness of the eyelids (20%), white purulent discharge (17%), and finally sticking of the eyelids when waking up from sleep (13%).