Demographic profiles of contact lens wearers and their association with lens wear characteristics in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Contact lens (CL) use is increasing globally, yet epidemiological data on CL wearers remain limited in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics of CL users, the distribution of CL types, and the factors associated with CL wear patterns and correction status in Indonesia. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit current CL users aged 18-40 years through online advertisements and an ophthalmology clinic in Indonesia. Participants self-reported demographic data, CL type, reasons for use, and refractive correction details. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Agreement between recommended and actual CL spherical power was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and factors associated with correction status were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Among 350 participants, the majority were female (95.4%), aged 18-30 years (54.0%), held a bachelor's degree (66.6%), and earned [&ge;]Rp5,000,000 monthly (64.9%). Soft colored lenses were the most commonly used type (60.1%), and practicality was the most frequently cited reason for use (38.1%), followed by cosmetic purposes (31.1%) and refractive correction (30.8%). Mild myopia was the most prevalent refractive error (40.0%). Undercorrection was the most common CL correction status (44.4% OD, 44.8% OS), with actual CL power significantly less negative than the recommended power in both eyes (OD: -0.18 D, p=0.015; OS: -0.24 D, p=0.001). Greater myopia severity was significantly associated with both undercorrection (OR 3.63-5.01) and overcorrection (OR 4.22-5.83) in both eyes (all p<0.001), while age, wear duration, and sex showed no significant association. Conclusion: This first nationwide demographic study of CL wearers in Indonesia found a predominance of colored soft lenses and a substantial tendency toward undercorrection linked to myopia severity. These findings highlight the need for public education on professional CL fitting, prescribing, and safe use practices.