The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) is offering a sneak peek of its newest consumer data-based research on how eye care practices can retain—and grow—their patient base of contact lens (CL) wearers.
These preliminary findings are being presented during the 2024 Vision Expo West (VEW) meeting this week (Sept 19-21) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hold up. Didn’t CLI already come out with CL-based data this year?
Yes it did—and in years prior. This research is all part of the CLI’s See Tomorrow initiative encompassing bi-annual custom research on eyecare professional (ECP) and consumer perspectives.
- The purpose of this: To identify insights and issues that may influence contact lens fittings and wear
Just in the last 12 months, the institute has released its nationwide findings on:
Let’s talk about the basis for this research.
Commissioned by CLI and conducted by Prodege, an online marketing, consumer polling, and market research company, between Aug. 9-21, 2024, this latest research was conducted via an online survey.
Respondents encompassed a total of 401 U.S. residents (aged 18 to 64) who reported wearing soft CLs at least once a week:
- New CL wearers (n = 200)
- < 2 years
- Long-term CL wearers (n = 201)
- ≥2 years
Now the big-picture findings.
On a broader scale, these two CL wearer categories were found to share similar factors impacting their decision to continue wearing CLs, the CLI noted.
However: ECPs and their staff can incorporate these patients’ differences to maintain statstation—particularly among newer CLE waterers.
Go on …
According to Stan Rogaski CL executive director, the data showed that new CL wearers benefit most from:
- More personalized care to meet their lifestyle needs
- More attention from the entire clinical practice
- More encouragement and training from staffers
“That translates into happy, healthy patients whose satisfaction ratings skyrocket once they cross the 2-year mark, turning them into lifelong contact lens fans,” Rogaski stated.
Let’s talk numbers.
Beginning with overall satisfaction levels:
- 86% of long-term CL wearers reported high satisfaction (8-10 on a 10-point scale)
- 67% of new CL wearers reported high satisfaction (8-10 on a 10-point scale)
To note, overall dissatisfaction was “nearly non-existent” among the long-term CL wearers.
- 2% of reported a 4 or less on that same 10-point scale
What most influenced respondents to continue CL wear?
Three actions that ECPs and their staff could take were reported to be most influential in encouraging long-term CL wear:
- Ensuring CL prescriptions are updated to a patient’s lifestyle changes
- 69% new CL wearers
- 57% long-term CL wearers
- Providing trial lenses for new CL prescriptions
- 69% new CL wearers
- 66% long-term CL wearers
- Ensuring patients understand proper CL care
- 67% new CL wearers
- 51% long-term CL wearers
Speaking of influence … how much do patients rely on ECPs?
Seeing as previous CLI research—reported in April 2024—found that 51% of glasses-wearing consumers stated their lack of CL wear was “directly influenced by in-practice behaviors or lack thereof,” we’d say pretty influential.
This new data only solidified those findings, with long-term CL wearers reporting they were “extremely or greatly” influenced by the following clinical staff to continue CL wear:
- 59% influenced by ECPs
- 52% influenced by opticians
- 35% influenced by exam staff technicians
- 25% influenced by optical staff
- 21% influenced by administrative staff
And how did this compare to new CL wearers?
If you can believe it, the percentages actually increased:
- 74% influenced by ECPs
- 64% influenced by opticians
- 53% influenced by exam staff
- 53% influenced by optical staff
- 44% influenced by administrative staff
In terms of timing, what’s the optimal amount to spend with a patient?
Ideally, the greater amount of time an ECP spends, the better.
- Translation: An exam time of anywhere from 16 to 20 minutes (for both new and long-term CL wearers)
“The greater amount of time spent with the doctor and exam staff increases trust in their recommendations,” the CLI reported.
This was true for:
- 74% of new CL wearers
- 57% of long-term CL wearers
This is very insightful … where can I learn more?
If you’re attending VEW, the panel discussion Disrupting the Dropout Dilemma: Bold Moves to Keep Consumers in Contact Lenses will kick off on the VEW Innovation Stage at 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PST (today, Sept. 19).
The discussion will include a moderated panel of ECPs, including
- Carla Mack, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, FBCLA (moderator; CLI chairperson)
- Jennifer Seymour Brusven, LDO, NCLE-AC, ABO-AC, AAS
- Janelle Davison, OD
- Shalu Pal, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FIAOMC
And lastly .. when will the full report be released?
CLI anticipates a late-October to early-November publication. Stay tuned!
VEW 2024 is being held Sept. 19-21, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center.