Alcon has launched the Alcon Innovator Program, a new initiative aimed toward partnering with eye care professionals (ECPs) to not only identify current gaps in contact lens offerings but also call attention and address the market’s unmet needs.
Let’s start with the state of contact lenses and patient satisfaction.
To gain a better understanding of the current environment, we’ll refer to The Vision Council’s recent preview of new research regarding the insights and factors influencing contact lens fittings and wear.
In general, for new contact lens wearers, the data found most patients benefit from:
- More personalized care to meet their lifestyle needs
- More attention from the entire clinical practice
- More encouragement and training from staffers
And earlier this year, the Contact Lens Institute reported on contact lens behavior trends, finding that the top influencing factors for contact lens patient referrals included:
- An ECP explaining the benefits of lens wear (66%)
- Understanding how to insert and remove lenses (52%)
- Being given trial lenses during exam visit (51%)
- Having a wider range of price/performance options (47%)
- Awareness of lenses for specific eye conditions (46%)
Now to this program.
Initially kicked off earlier this year, the first-of-its-kind U.S. program selected 20 “innovators” (ECPs) to receive and offer their patients exclusive access to the company’s upcoming product launches.
Its purpose: To collect patient insights from across the United States and better understand the most commonly reported areas of dissatisfaction among contact lens wearers.
What type of access did this include?
Specifically, early access to upcoming contact lens products before they hit the market, with ECPs fitting patients who best aligned with these respective products.
- To note: Patient feedback was then shared to the company to assist in its “market entry plan and in-market brand positioning.”
And for reference: Alcon’s contact lens lineup encompasses featured brands such as Dailies Total 1, Precision, Total30, and Air Optix, with the following lens types:
- Daily disposables
- Monthly replacements
- Astigmatism (toric)
- Multifocal
- Color lenses
And what did the initiative uncover?
Based on this partnership, the company identified three key barriers playing a role in patients’ contact lens wear outcome goals:
- Compliance
- Comfort
- Cost
Dive into the compliance issue.
Based on prior research, Alcon reported that 66% of 2-week contact lens wearers are noncompliant with their lens replacement schedule—which can result in lens functionality decreasing.
What ECPs can do: It’s recommended that they take their patients’ behaviors into consideration when recommending a specific lens (i.e.: ensure a lens fits into the patient’s established routine).
And comfort?
The company noted that patients with noncompliant tendencies towards their contact lens replacement schedules are more likely to develop adverse events (AEs; contact lens discomfort or infections).
- Case in point: Research has found that a reported 57% of patients indicated no confidence in discussing comfort issues with their ECPs.
What ECPs can do: Ask patients additional questions to gauge their comfort and better determine suitable alternative lens options.
Now to the cost issue.
While 90% of ECPs have indicated that they believe silicone hydrogel (SiHy) lenses are “better overall for their patients,” over 50% of new patients are reportedly still being fit in reusable lenses, according to Alcon data on file.
The reason? Cost considerations.
Interesting … so what were the takeaways from this partnership?
In general, Alcon noted that the program’s participating innovators (ECPs) shared insights on their practice and patients based on fitting their patients with new Alcon lenses.
As Kristen Brotherson, Alcon’s U.S. Vision Care general manager, noted, the company’s dedication to providing the latest technology and high-quality offerings for patients makes it essential that “we partner with practicing (ECPs) to ensure our product offerings meet the needs of their patients and their practices.”