BackgroundTo　evaluate　the　impact　of　the　corneal　contact　lens　virtual　simulation　teaching　system　on　students＇　course　experience　and　self-directed　learning　in　＇corneal　contact　lens＇　education.MethodsThis　study　developed　a　virtual　simulation　experimental　teaching　system　for　＇corneal　contact　lens＇　education.　A　longitudinal　comparison　of　the　course　experience　and　self-directed　learning　abilities　of　the　same　group　of　students　at　a　university　in　Fujian　Province　before　and　after　using　the　system　was　conducted　through　questionnaires.　Pearson　correlation　analysis　was　used　to　determine　the　correlation　between　factors　of　course　experience　and　self-directed　learning　abilities　before　and　after　the　application　of　the　virtual　simulation　experimental　teaching　system.ResultsA　total　of　290　valid　questionnaires　were　collected　from　145　optometry　undergraduates　(71　males,　74　females,　average　age　21.05　+/-　0.82　years).　Students　completed　questionnaires　before　and　after　using　the　virtual　simulation　teaching　system.　The　evaluation　of　teaching　improved　from　4.05　to　4.45,　basic　skills　mastery　increased　from　3.49　to　4.40,　and　overall　course　experience　rose　from　3.07　to　4.17.　The　system　significantly　enhanced　self-directed　learning　abilities　(P　＜=　0.05),　with　increased　scores　in　teacher　role　expectations　(3.91　to　4.41),　independence　(3.03　to　4.34),　learning　confidence　(3.02　to　4.35),　learning　process　evaluation　(2.89　to　4.33),　and　learning　strategy　use　(3.37　to　4.36).　However,　correlation　analysis　revealed　a　significant　decrease　in　the　correlation　between　students＇　confidence　in　learning　ability,　process　evaluation,　and　strategy　use　after　utilizing　the　virtual　simulation　technology.ConclusionVirtual　simulation　technology　not　only　significantly　enhanced　students＇　experience　in　corneal　contact　lens　courses　but　also　improved　their　self-directed　learning　abilities.　It　changed　students＇　cognition　and　behavior　patterns　regarding　the　learning　process　to　some　extent,　providing　new　pathways　and　possibilities　for　the　innovation　and　development　of　digital　education　in　ophthalmology.