SIGNIFICANCECompliance with hygiene and replacement of contact lens (CL) storage cases is key to avoid CL contamination and anterior ocular surface complications. However, compliance levels with these accessories remain low, even in patients with awareness of the risk associated with noncompliance.PURPOSEThis study aimed to determine level of compliance with common practices regarding CL storage case hygiene and replacement, type of information provided by practitioners, and risk perception.METHODSAn ad hoc self-reported survey was used to collect demographic and CL wear details, compliance with storage case care, type of received information, and risk perception (in a 1-to-5 scale). Inferential statistics explored the relationship of demographic details and type of received information with compliance and risk perception.RESULTSNondaily disposable wearing participants returned 299 completed surveys, with a median age of 24 years (76.9% females). Monthly replacement silicone hydrogel CLs and multipurpose solutions were predominant. Self-reported compliance with storage case care was poor, with 19.1% of respondents never cleaning their cases, 68.6% exposing them to tap water, and 26.4% failing to replace them within 6 months of acquisition. Two-thirds of respondents received specific information on case maintenance, mainly in oral form. Perceived risk associated with poor-compliance practices was high (median values of 4 and 5), and increased with educational level (P = .02, regarding handwashing; P = .03, regarding case hygiene), with years of CL wear experience (P < .001, regarding handwashing), in those patients provided with specific information on CL case care (P = .01, regarding case replacement).CONCLUSIONSCompliance with CL storage case hygiene and replacement was generally poor, although awareness of risk associated with noncompliance was high and influenced by factors related to demographic details, CL experience, and patient-practitioner communication. Strategies must be explored to increase risk awareness through education because this may lead to better compliance practices.

SIGNIFICANCE:Frequent and effective patient-practitioner communication is essential to ensure that instructions regarding contact lens use, care, and maintenance are understood and followed. Given the relevance of good patient compliance, the responsibility of practitioners to provide adequate information may not be neglected.PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the content and type of information licensed optometrists in Spain provide their patients during the first contact lens fitting and at follow-up visits.METHODS: A self-reported ad hoc survey was distributed to licensed optometrists in Spain to investigate, among other factors, whether practitioners provided information on several aspects of contact lens use and maintenance, how was this information provided, and whether in-office practical demonstrations were conducted at all contact lens appointments.