Pattern of contact lens use and related sintomatology in a university population

Purpose To describe the pattern of use of contact lens (CL) in university students, the symptomatology associated and knowledge of the possible complications with its use. Methods A prospective survey type, cross-sectional observational study in which a questionnaire application (CLDEQ-8) as well as other questions about the pattern of use and knowledge of the possible complications was done. Stratified random sampling proportional to the size of the strata according to the different divisions of the university was made. Results 823 students were surveyed, of them 66 used CL with a prevalence of 8%, 73.3% of CL users were female, the soft contact lens its the more frequent used (98.5%), and the most common indication for use its the refractive (77.3%). 74.2% of them removes them when sleeping. 69.7% of students know at least one complication associated with tue use of CL. Dry eye sypmtoms occurred in 93.9% f users. Conclusions In this group of students the prevalence of CL wear is low, its use is generally refractive and there is a high awareness of complications and a very high frequency of symptomology of dry eye.