Issue 84 of Contact Lens Update from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) focuses on actionable strategies to help eyecare professionals expand their contact lens patient base and reduce wearer dropout. The issue provides strategies for clinical communication, patient retention, and optimization of the lens-wearing experience.
In the editorial, Mike McDougall of McDougall Communications presents findings from a recent Contact Lens Institute survey of 1,054 adults needing vision correction. The results reveal substantial interest in contact lens wear among individuals who have never tried them. However, many participants reported a communication gap—they were never informed about contact lenses as an option during clinical visits.
“Remarkably,” Mr. McDougall noted, “friends and family suggested trying contact lenses more than twice as often as eye doctors (23%).” Many providers believe that patients will start the conversation about contact lens wear while patients often wait for their provider to broach the subject, he continued. “This is an impasse that is easy for eyecare practitioners to overcome,” he wrote.
The feature article by Doerte Luensmann, senior clinical scientist at CORE, reviews common barriers that new contact lens wearers face, such as problems with vision clarity, comfort, handling, and overall disinterest. Dr. Luensmann provides evidence-based strategies for overcoming these challenges and encourages clinicians to take a patient-centered approach that considers individual concerns and preferences.
In the conference highlight section, Samantha Watson, a contact lens optician at CooperVision in the UK, shares insights from her online survey and interviews. Her research examined the emotional experiences and expectations of new and prospective lens wearers. Findings indicated discrepancies between patients’ expectations and the actual fitting and dispensing process. She identified improved communication and setting realistic expectations as opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction and long-term engagement with lens wear. “To satisfy new wearers,” she concluded, “it is essential to minimize the required visits to practice. Ideally, this would mean supplying [contact lens wearers] with lenses on the day. Protracted [contact lens] journeys may increase drop-out.”
To aid clinicians in applying these insights, CORE has provided a downloadable clinical handout that outlines essential conversation points and practical tips to attract new wearers, retain current patients, and recognize early signs of potential dropout.
The issue can be found here: https://contactlensupdate.com/