Compliance in contact lens care.

Fifty patients who were originally fitted or refitted with daily-wear contact lenses at the UCLA contact lens service were interviewed on the nature of their care system compliance and hygiene. Good compliance was defined as meeting three preset, standardized criteria (hand washing before lens manipulation, correct use of a FDA-approved care system, and adherence to a daily-wear schedule). Twenty of our patients, or 40%, were found to be noncompliant. Noncompliance occurred more frequently in the 10 to 30 year age group and in those over 50 years of age and after lenses had been worn for more than 2 years. We also noted that patients with contact lens experience predating our contact lens care were more noncompliant as a group than those who only obtained contact lenses and care through our practice.