The Comparison of Contact Lens Wear Clinical Symptoms Between Different Modality of Lenses

Abstract

Background: Dry eye is a common complication of soft contact lens (SCL) wear, contributing to discomfort and reduced compliance. Identifying the most prominent symptoms among SCL wearers is essential to improve management and enhance lens tolerance. Methods: A total of 46 participants (30 disposable and 16 conventional SCL wearers) aged 18–37 years were recruited using a convenient sampling method in Kuantan, Malaysia. The Women’s Health Study Questionnaire was used to screen for dry eye, while the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 (CLDEQ-8) evaluated the frequency and intensity of symptoms. The Mann–Whitney U test compared symptom scores between disposable and conventional groups, and Spearman’s correlation assessed associations between frequency and intensity. Results: The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant differences were observed between disposable and conventional SCL wearers (p > 0.05). Dryness was the most frequent symptom, while discomfort was the most intense. In the disposable SCL group, dryness was consistently the most frequent and intense symptom compared to others. Spearman’s correlation demonstrated significant positive associations between frequency and intensity of symptoms, specifically discomfort (p = 0.012), dryness (p < 0.001) and blurry vision (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Dryness was identified as the most prominent and consistent symptom among soft contact lens wearers regardless of lens type. The strong association between dryness frequency and intensity highlights its role as a key clinical indicator in contact lens-related dry eye. These results emphasize the importance of symptom monitoring to improve patient comfort and guide clinical recommendations for contact lens use.