Poor compliance with contact lens care regimens is a factor considered important in the development of potentially sight‐threatening microbial keratitis. The purpose of this study was to highlight particular areas of non‐compliance in contact lens care. One hundred and sixty contact lens wearers, who presented to an ophthalmic casualty department over a period of six months, were surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire. Of the 142 patients who used daily wear lenses, 29 (20 per cent) did not clean/disinfect their contact lenses after every use. Soft contact lens wearers used a wide variety of care regimens, some of which would be ineffective in disinfecting the lenses. The care of the lens case was a particular problem, with only 10 patients (7 per cent) using a regular and effective method of case cleaning. Seventy‐three patients (50 per cent) either rarely or never discarded their contact lens solutions 28 days after opening. Of the 128 patients wearing non‐disposable lenses, 43 (34 per cent) either rarely or never used enzymatic cleaning tablets to remove protein from their lenses. Tap water, a potential source of microbial contamination, was used for rinsing contact lenses before or after cleaning by 36 patients (25 per cent). The results highlight specific areas where there was deviation from recognised standards of practice for contact lens care. There is a need for contact lens wearers to be re‐educated in the care of their lenses. Since pharmacies are a major source of contact lens care products, pharmacy staff could have an important role to play in the counselling of contact lens wearers to help prevent serious ocular