Survey: Most glasses wearers interested in contacts say their doctor never suggested them
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NEW YORK — New data from the Contact Lens Institute indicate that nearly half of glasses wearers are interested in wearing contact lenses, but only one in 10 said their eye care provider suggested them.
The institute previewed new consumer research that is part of its “See Tomorrow” initiative at Vision Expo East. The initiative “explores consumer and eye care professional perspectives surrounding issues that can influence contact lens fitting and wear, according to the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) website.
“It’s important because patients are getting short-changed, not intentionally, but they’re not getting the opportunity to enjoy all of the options on the table,” Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA, told Healio. “This brought to light some eye-opening statistics as far as patients who are interested in contact lenses.”
According to survey results, 51% of 579 glasses wearers said they did not try contact lenses because of their experience in the eye care practice. Of these patients, 20% said they were not asked about contacts, 19% said they were not told they were a candidate and 18% said they did not receive information on it.
Respondents ranked the top factors that would persuade them to try contact lenses, with the first being the doctor explaining the benefits, followed by proficiency in insertion and removal, trial lens opportunity, a wide price and performance range, and awareness of different types of contacts for specific conditions.
Bruce, a licensed master optician and contact lens fitting specialist from Vancouver, Washington, said these responses “reinforce what’s clear across the board: the doctor’s recommendation definitely stands out. If the doctor says [contact lenses] would be a great move, that will have much more impact than anyone else in the practice.”
However, doctors’ time to discuss options with patients is limited, he said. In states where opticians can get licensed to dispense and fit contact lenses, the optician can take on that role.
“It needs to be a collaborative approach between the doctor and optician, but also with everybody in the office,” Bruce added.
All staff members, including technicians and receptionists, should be kept informed of new technology and advances in contact lens designs, including multifocals and daily disposables, he said.
“Ensure staff is on board and motivated to make sure every patient gets all the options in an eye wear solution ... and address their total vision needs,” Bruce said. “It is not patients’ job to understand; it’s our job to make it simple and to recommend the best solutions out there.”
This survey was conducted online from Feb. 1 to Feb. 9, 2024, by Prodege, as commissioned by CLI, and respondents included 1,053 vision-corrected U.S. adults, according to a CLI press release.
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