The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) and The Vision Council have partnered on a new report regarding contact lens culture previewed at the 2023 Vision Expo West.
Let’s start with this report.
The Culture Calculation: Data-Backed Behaviors for Contact Lens Success is based on results from a survey of 173 respondents from the U.S.-based eyecare community who answered questions covering “beliefs and behaviors when it comes to cultivating contact lens enthusiasm among their colleagues and patients.”
Tell me more about these respondents.
Among the surveyed were:
- Optometrists
- Opticians
- Ophthalmologists
- Practice administrators
So why poll the community?
According to CLI Executive Director Stan Rogaski, the report is a continuation of the institution’s See Tomorrow initiative, which consists of bi-annual custom research among eyecare professionals (ECPs) and patients regarding issues that could influence contact lens fitting and wear as well as the subsequent publication of industry reports.
“The latest effort turned the lens inward, for the first time quantifying what’s involved to create, nurture, and expand positive contact lens cultures,” Rogaski stated.
And the findings?
To be clear: these were previewed findings.Major results included that:
- 94% of respondents believe their practice already has a positive contact lens culture
- 84% of practice encourage clinicians / staff to recommend contact lenses
- 84% of practices encourage patients to consider contact lenses
Interesting … how does this compare to their actual behaviors?
Per the previewed data, “only 49% of practices discuss contact lenses with the majority of eligible, non-lens wearing patients.”
To note, this supported the 2023 See Tomorrow report that found 75% of this same patient base did not discuss lenses at their most recent appointment.
That same report also found that one in five patients stated that such a conversation would have helped them strongly consider contact lens wear (and 19% stating they would have been motivated to act with a general exchange).
Were any factors impact contact lens culture identified?
Yes … positive factors, that is.
Among these were:
- Product access
- Advancements
- Elements (over which a practice has more direct control)
- Education
- Training
- Emotional/professional benefits from lens prescribing
How about from a financial perspective?
Less than half (47%) of respondents expressed that their practices “quantify the business impacts of contact lens patients” when compared to their patients of other vision correction forms.
And even then, only 56% of those who perform assessment stated that the contact lens patient base is more profitable.
Meaning …
The CLI noted that this begged the question of three key areas:
- Tracking and analysis methodologies
- Underuse of prescribing glass to current lens patients
- Myths on the actual impact of such a practice
So who presented these findings?
Moderated by CLI Board member Charissa Lee, OD, FAAO, a panel of industry experts included:
- Alysse Henkel, senior director, Market Research & Analytics for The Vision Council
- Shelby Brogdon, OD, McFarland Eye Care, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Sabrina Gaan, OD, Eyes on Plainville, Plainville, Massachusetts
- Lisa Hornick, OD, FAAO, Stanford Ranch Optometry, Rocklin, California
When will the full report be available?
Per CLI, mid-October 2023.
VEW 2023 is being held September 27-30, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center.