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Studies show consumers want best products, ECPs focus on cost
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CooperVision has found through a series of global studies that although consumers want the highest quality products, eye care professionals often recommend less effective contact lenses due to cost.
“These studies should help eye care professionals better understand what today’s health care-aware consumers expect – including their willingness to pay more for a breathable contact lens,” Michele Andrews, OD, senior director of professional and academic affairs, North America, CooperVision, said in a press release from the company. “In fact, we uncovered that one in two patients would want to talk with their ECP about more breathable contact lenses, if only they knew about the options.”
The studies, which surveyed ECPs from Japan, the U.K. and the U.S., show that 92% agree that silicone hydrogel 1-day lenses are the best choice for patients’ eyes in terms of breathability, and 77% worry that their hydrogel 1-day lens wearers’ corneas are not getting the oxygen they need. Furthermore, 95% say they would choose silicone hydrogel over hydrogel for 1-day patients but cost stops them from prescribing them, according to the release.
It was also revealed that 68% of consumers expect their ECP to prescribe the healthiest option, regardless of cost.
“We now fit about 90% of our contact lens patients in daily disposables,” David L. Kading, OD, owner of the Specialty Eyecare Group, said in the release. “We are health care providers, prescribing what is best for the well-being of our patients. This means being ready to discuss why all contact lenses are not the same, cost and value, and statistics on what drives satisfaction. This approach has changed our practice, bringing about incredible opportunity.”
These findings will be available in a report later this summer.