Vision Correction Habits After COVID-19 Onset in Spectacle and Contact Lens Wearers

Abstract

Purpose: To determine how vision correction habits changed after the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic onset. Methods: Participants reported vision correction habits, refractive error, screen time, mask wearing time, and dry eye symptoms since the COVID-19 pandemic onset through email survey. Results: A total of 133 participants completed the survey. Worsening dry eye symptoms were associated with increased screen time (P=0.04). Hours per day of spectacle wear increased by approximately 1 hr (P=0.001) and was associated with increased screen time (P=0.002). Worsening dry eye symptoms were associated with increased days per week of spectacle wear (P=0.02). Participants wore contact lenses about one day per week less than before the pandemic (P=0.0001). Increased mask wearing time was associated with increased days per week of contact lens wear (P=0.03). Conclusions: After pandemic onset, hours per day of spectacle wear increased, and days per week of contact lens wear decreased. Increases in hourly spectacle wear were associated with increased screen time, whereas increased daily contact lens wear was associated with increased mask wear time, suggesting that spectacles may be preferred for screen time activities and contact lenses for mask wear.