Distribution and Prevalence of Contact Lens Use in Iranian Adult Population, Results of the Persian Eye Cohort Study

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OBJECTIVES: To determine the age- and gender-specific prevalence of contact lens wearers among Iranian adults aged 31 to 70 years (results from the nationwide Persian Cohort Eye Study). METHODS: This multicenter population-based cross-sectional study used a cluster sampling procedure to recruit 48,618 Iranian participants aged 31 to 70 years (mean age: 42.9±7.9 SD) from six different provinces between 2015 and 2020. Demographic characteristics and medical and ocular history of participants were gathered through the interview. All participants underwent a thorough history-taking interview and a comprehensive optometric examination in the clinic. We used logistic regression on the multilevel analysis to determine the effect of different variables on contact lens use. RESULTS: In total, 228 participants (0.34%, of all) used contact lenses. Among them, 141 subjects (0.22%) used corrective lenses, 82 subjects (0.13%) wore cosmetic lenses, and five subjects wore both. The mean age of the population was 42.9±7.9 SD (31-70 years). There was an inverse association between advancing age and both lens wear (adjusted ORs: 0.26, 0.15). Wearing both types of lenses was correlated with being female (adjusted ORs: 3.22, 9.03), having higher education (adjusted ORs: 7.94, 5.49), and high wealth score index (adjusted ORs: 3.64, 1.46). The mean spherical equivalent of the whole population, corrective lens, and cosmetic lens users were -1.46±2.91 D, -2.04±3.42 D, and -0.55±1.21 D, respectively. Most cosmetic lens users were emmetropes (68.75%), while myopia was the most frequent refractive error among corrective lens wearers (67.88%). There was a significant difference in usage between centers. Professional prescriptions and other unknown sources were the main purchase sources for corrective and cosmetic lens users, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of contact lens use in the older adult population of Iran is very low, highlighting an important opportunity for public health and eye care professionals. The population-based information reported in this article indicates a significant gap in public and professional awareness and attitudes toward contact lens use, emphasizing the need for targeted educational initiatives and accessibility improvements. These findings offer valuable insights for future eye care planning, policy development, and potential growth in contact lens practice and marketing in Iran.

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