안경원의 시험착용 콘택트렌즈 및 관리용품 관리 실태

Purpose: In the present study, the actual management state of trial contact lenses and lens care products in local optical shops was surveyed and analyzed to reduce the risk of lens complication possibly induced by neglecting lens care. Methods: The feeling of contact lens wearers during the wear of trial contact lenses was surveyed. Futhermore, the actual management state of trial contact lenses such as cosmetic lens and RGP lens and lens care products was also investigated by surveying opticians who trade contact lenses in local optical shops. Results: It was found that consumers trusted the sanitary conditions of the lens since trial cosmetic contact lens and RGP lens were cleaned before and after trails by over 98% of opticians in local optical shops. For trial cosmetic lens, cleaning with normal saline, multipurpose solution for soft lens and combination of saline and multipurpose solution were 38.5%, 40.5% and 21%, respectively, before trials. After trials, cosmetic lenses were cleaned with normal saline, multipurpose solution for soft lens and a combination of saline and multipurpose solution were 13%, 75%, and 12%, respectively. On the other hand, cleaning with normal saline, multipurpose solution for RGP lens and combination of saline and multipurpose solution were 28.5%, 38.5% and 33%, respectively, before trying trial RGP lens. After trials, RGP lenses were cleaned with normal saline, multipurpose solution for RGP lens and a combination of saline and multipurpose solution were 2.5%, 70%, and 27.5%, respectively, indicating that relatively many opticians followed the lens cleaning regimen. In local optical shops, the cleaning trial cosmetic lens was mainly conducted at every 10 days or a month and the washing cycle of cosmetic lens case was in a month or 2~3 months. The cleaning interval of trial RGP lens was primarily in a month or 2~3 months. For those lens cases, more than 75% of opticians washed them with a surfactant and then rinsed with cold water. The storing periods of lens care products were primarily in a week for saline and in a month and 2~3 months indicating that storing period of lens care products was relatively well-kept in local optical shops. Conclusions: It is thought that the concern about any microbial infection is not that high since trial contact lenses and lens care products were generally well-managed by opticians in local optical shops from the results above. However, better public eye health and better public confidence in opticians may be possible if further strengthen in avoidance of lens cleaning with saline, keep of cleaning cycles within 2 weeks and rinsing of lens cases with hot water happens.