The prevalence and pattern of contact lens use in a Singapore community.

Purpose: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic patterns, and characteristics of contact lens use in an electoral community in Singapore.

Methods: One thousand eight hundred fifteen persons aged between 12-55 years from 768 households were surveyed using a standardized pre-tested questionnaire.

Results: The percentage of contact lens wearers in the survey populations was 9.0%. Forty-two percent of surveyed individuals were myopes, 21.8% of whom wore contact lenses. Contact lens wearers tended to be young Chinese females with higher level education and incomes. Most wore monthly disposable or daily wear soft contact lenses. Convenience and cosmesis were the main reasons cited for contact lens wear. Optometrists, who prescribed the bulk of contact lenses, were also the most influential in determining consumers' choice of lenses.

Conclusion: Information gathered in this population-based survey may be used to facilitate national eye-care planning and provide a baseline for comparison with rates of lens wear found in other countries and in future surveys.