Sociodemographic and refractive factors associated with contact lens use: Insights from a nationwide Korean survey

Purpose: This study examined sociodemographic and refractive factors associated with contact lens use in Korea using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VIII-3, 2021).Methods: Among 748 participants with a lifetime history of contact lens wear, past-month wearers (PW) group were defined as those who used lenses within the 30 days prior to the survey, while those who had not were classified as past-month non-wearers (PNW) group. Demographics, refractive errors, dry eye status, purchase source, prescription status, and complications were compared between groups. Complex sample logistic regression identified predictors of continued use, and lens-type–specific characteristics were analyzed within the PW group.Results: PW (53.54%) group was significantly younger (27.85 ± 0.54 years), had longer wear duration (≥5 years; 52.75%), and showed higher rates of high myopia (23.02%) than PNW group (p < 0.01). Significant predictors of continued use included younger age (OR = 0.90), longer wear duration (≥10 years: OR = 24.67), high myopia (OR = 2.52), and absence of dry eye (OR = 7.46). Within the PW group, soft lenses were most common (72.29%). Ortho-k users were the youngest (12.40 ± 0.42 years) and all received physician prescriptions. In contrast, cosmetic lens users (23.89 years) were predominantly female (94.96%), recorded the highest complication rate (32.61%), and the lowest prescription rate (7.72%). Rigid gas permeable lens users had the highest high myopia (57.40%).Conclusions: Continued contact lens wear in Korea is driven by younger age and high myopia, while dry eye remains a significant barrier. The high complication rates in cosmetic lens users compared to the medically supervised ortho-k and RGP groups, highlight the critical need for ophthalmic guidance to ensure ocular health.