Patterns of prescribing contact lenses in Limpopo province, South Africa

Background: Contact lens (CL) prescribing is an essential strategy in vision correction. Patterns of CL prescribing are poorly reported globally, particularly in African countries irrespective of the high prevalence of uncorrected refractive error and corneal ectasia which can be corrected with CLs. Aim: This study aimed to determine the patterns of CL prescribing, their determinants, barriers and enablers among private practice optometrists in Limpopo, South Africa. Setting: Participants were optometrists from Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional, survey design, and data on the prescribing patterns of CLs were obtained through a self-administered online survey distributed to private practice optometrists in Limpopo, South Africa. Results: Ninety (43.0%) of optometrists completed the questionnaires from which 88 (94.9%) were Black African and had a mean age of 29.77 ± 7.21 years. While 74 (82.2%) participants reported to fit CLs, 48 (64.9%) participants reported to initiate conversations of CL wear to their patients. The mean self-reported knowledge and competencies score was good at 3.65 ± 0.71 using the Likert scale. Soft material (100%) and spherical designs (90.5%) were fitted the most by participants. Patient affordability (68.9%), poor patient motivation (52.7%) and poor lens tolerance (44.6%) were cited as the most common barriers to fitting CLs among participants who fitted CLs. The lack of equipment (62.5%), poor patient motivation (62.5%) and trial CL availability (37.5%) were the common barriers to CL fitting among participants who reported not fitting CLs. Conclusion: Majority of participants were fitting soft spherical CL. Patient affordability together with a lack of motivation and a lack of equipment were the reported barriers to CL prescribing. It is essential to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at encouraging practitioners to adopt CL use while simultaneously equipping them with the necessary skills and resources for effective CL fitting.