To investigate the epidemiology of contact lens (CL)-related complications in Korea.

A questionnaire regarding CL-related complications including patient's gender, age, causative factors, and signs and symptoms was distributed to members of the Korean Ophthalmological Society by The Korean Contact Lens Study Society and the results of the questionnaire analyzed.

Responses to the questionnaire written by ophthalmologists from 22 institutes and clinics were collected from 499 subjects over a 20-month period starting in October 2008 and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 22.9 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:8.1. The soft CL and cosmetic colored lens comprised the majority (46.6% and 42.1%, respectively) of the reported cases, followed by the rigid gas permeable lens (RGP lens; 10.6%) and orthokeratology lens (0.8%). In subjects using a cosmetic colored lens, 62.2% showed emmetropia and 89.1% of the lenses were prescribed by opticians. The main complications included corneal erosion, sterile corneal infiltrate, allergic disease, conjunctival injection, corneal ulcer, and dry eye syndrome. The most common causative factor of complications was excessive lens wear. Comparing main causative factors according to the RGP lens prescriber, the most common factor was poor lens fit.

The number of cosmetic colored lens-related complications in the emmetropic eyes of young patients is increasing rapidly. Considering opticians are the main CL prescribers in CL-related complications, Korean ophthalmologists need to pay more attention to CL fitting and constant education of patients regarding proper CL wear and care.