Dry Eye disease (DED) is a common and often debilitating condition for contact lens wearers, frequently leading to discomfort and discontinuation of lens use. To better understand this issue, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 contact lens wearers in Jordan. The research aimed to quantify the proportion of symptomatic DED and identify associated modifiable risk factors, particularly in the context of face mask use during the study period utilizing the validated Arabic version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (ARB-OSDI) questionnaire.
The study revealed a notably high prevalence of DED symptoms, with approximately 70% of participants reporting mild-to-severe symptomatic DED. The mean OSDI score for the cohort was 22.9 ± 17and over a quarter (25.7%) of participants were classified with severe symptomatic DED. The most frequent ocular complaints were pain and blurred vision, which impacted daily functions like reading and watching television for roughly 50% of the population. Wind and air conditioning were the most common environmental triggers, reported by 67.8% and 66.4% of participants.
Analysis confirmed a significant association between DED severity and several modifiable behaviors. Poor contact lens cleaning habits and longer contact lens age (use for more than 12 months) were both correlated with exaggerated DED symptoms and higher mean OSDI scores. Wearing face masks, especially for prolonged durations, emerged as a strong positive predictor of dry eye severity, suggesting a link to mask-associated dry eye (MADE). Conversely, the use of lubricant eye drops demonstrated a protective effect, significantly reducing symptomatic DED. Participants who reported always using eye drops had a mean OSDI score of only 8.79, placing them within the normative range.
The findings underscore that poor hygiene, prolonged lens age, and frequent mask-wearing are major contributing factors for dry eye symptoms among contact lens users. Clinicians should focus on the critical importance of proper lens hygiene, timely replacement, and the regular use of lubricating eye drops, particularly during periods of frequent mask-wearing.
Reference Source
Ghach, W., Bakkar, M. M., Aridi, M., & Alebrahim, M. A. (2025). Symptomatic dry eye disease (DED) in cohort of contact lens wearers in Jordan. PLoS One, 20(10): e0335254. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335254
