What consumers really want

The contact lens manufacturer gathered 24 consumers to discuss what they want from their contact lenses, as well as their understanding of the options that are available to them, including modality and materials.

The event, which followed an online survey of 470 contact lens wearers that was performed by CooperVision in 2018, aimed to provide qualitative insight that could help opticians better understand what motivates contact lens wearers.

Split into four groups depending on the type of contact lenses they wear, consumers were classified as daily disposable silicone hydrogel wearers, daily disposable hydrogel wearers, frequent replacement lens wearers and non-lens wearers considering their vision correction options.

Material matters?

When discussions began, it was clear straightaway that while the majority of consumers were comfortable sharing the name of their lenses and the frequency at which they changed them, no one was aware of what material their lenses were made from.

“I didn’t know that there was so much choice,” 31-year-old consumer Kirsty, who is a daily disposable silicone hydrogel lens wearer, told her group, adding: “I didn’t go into that much detail with my optician. Although I tried four different lenses, I just picked the one that felt most comfortable.”

Similarly, in the daily disposable hydrogel lens wearing group, 55-year-old consumer Angus, who has worn lenses for 30 years, said: “I wear daily disposable lenses and I wear them all day, every day. I know that they are daily disposables, but I couldn’t tell you what type of lens they are.”

While consumers expressed an interest and knowledge about their choice of lens modality, the majority said that, prior to the event, material was something that they had not considered.

Many consumers shared that they had listened to their optician’s advice on contact lens modality and what was recommended to them, and made their selection accordingly, but that material was not commonly discussed.

“I listen to my optician and go with their expertise and what they say,” consumer Kirsty said.

Unaware that their contact lenses were made from silicone hydrogel, consumers in this group explained that they had opted for daily disposables due to both convenience and infrequency of wear, which made the lens modality more cost effective for them.

Many of the daily disposable silicone hydrogel wearers had previously worn frequent replacement lenses and stated that they made the switch due to convenience, cost and experience of infections. These reasons were more paramount to their lens choice than the notion that daily disposables could be a healthier lens modality for their eyes.

Being a dual spectacles and contact lens wearer who wears contact lenses mainly for sport, 47-year-old consumer Matt said that daily disposables were “more cost effective than monthlies” for him.

Wear time

All consumers who wore contact lenses spoke openly about how they would like to wear their lenses for longer than they currently do, with comfort, eye dryness and irritation all frequently referred to as barriers to wear time. 

Consumers in the daily disposable silicone hydrogel group shared that they wear their lenses for between seven to 12 hours.

Kelly, who wears daily disposable silicone hydrogels, revealed that she gets an average of 12 hours wear from her lenses. Kirsty, who also wearers daily disposable silicone hydrogels, emphasised that while she would like to wear her lenses for longer, after trying a number of lenses, she picked the lens that offered her the most comfort.

Consumers wearing daily disposable hydrogel lenses expressed wearing their lenses between eight to 12 hours, removing their lenses when their eyes begin to feel “dry,” “itchy,” or “gritty.”

I wear daily disposable lenses and I wear them all day, every day. I know that they are daily disposables, but I couldn’t tell you what type of lens they are

When asked if they felt restricted by their lens wearing time, the consensus from this group was that they did.

Consumers pointed out that while their opticians do regularly raise wear time with them, their questions tend to be based on how long they wear their lenses for, rather than how long they would like to be wearing their lenses for.

Longer wear times were also acknowledged by consumers who were considering contact lenses, with all day wear expressed as what they desired.

For 51-year old non-lens wearing consumer Alison, she was looking to be able to build her contact lens application and removal in to her morning and night time routines. “[I would like to] put them in when I clean my teeth in the morning and take them out when cleaning my teeth in the evening,” she said, to much agreement from the group.

26-year-old consumer Alex said that while being able to wear lenses between at least nine to 12 hours during his working day would be ideal, he would like to be able to extend that when needed. “If I was going straight out after work, I would still like to be able to wear them,” he said, noting a 12–18 hours’ time range.

Tech benefits

Having had a whistlestop tour of the differences between silicone hydrogel and hydrogel lenses earlier in the evening in a presentation by contact lens optician and CooperVision professional services consultant, Sam Armstrong, consumers expressed an interest in learning more about the technology involved in developing contact lenses, specifically the benefits of different materials and their link to oxygen accessing the eye.

Expressing shock that they were wearing lenses designed using technology originally developed in the ‘70s, consumers in the daily disposable hydrogel group said that while they wouldn’t research contact lens technology themselves, or raise it with their optician, they would welcome the optician speaking to them about it.

When asked if they felt that the optician was there to recommend and offer them the best option for their eyes, the group unanimously agreed.

Consumer Angus said that he welcomes his optician informing him of what options are available for him. “Over the years, every two years or so, my optician has upgraded me. They’ve told me that something new is out and asked if I would like to try it,” he shared.

I would like to be told and know more about oxygen getting to the eye

Daily disposable silicone hydrogel wearers appeared to be more willing to try new lenses, with comments such as “I’d try something new if there is something new there,” and “I am willing to try anything.”

One daily disposable silicone hydrogel lens consumer pointed out that being informed about the technology and materials would mean that she understood her eyes better. “I would like to be told and know more about oxygen getting to the eye,” consumer Kirsty said, explaining that if she understood more about the technology she would have known why her eyes sometimes appear red, for example, and would not assume it was due to infection.

While a number of consumers felt that the optician should raise new technology with them, they were aware of time constraints on the appointment, with 28-year-old frequent replacement lens wearer, Ashleigh, commenting: “[Technology] has changed so much so it would be interesting to find out how it’s working,” adding that for opticians to do this may be “tough on consultation times.”

Consumers in the frequent replacement lens group discussed how they cannot always remember what it discussed with them during their appointments at the opticians. As a result, 55-year-old consumer within the group, Brian, suggested that giving patients information to take away with them from the appointment would help keep them better informed.

Asked by CooperVision senior marketing manager for the UK and Ireland, Sarah Weston, if consumers in the non-contact lenses wearer group felt that the use of oxygen maps was an effective way to explain technology benefits, there was agreement.

Speaking to and educating patients about technology regarding lenses appeared to ease non-lens wearers’ nerves about opticians being sales people and there was general agreement that while they would like to be told about new technology, they would question the reasons behind it.

“I would like to hear about new technology, but I am always suspicious about whether it’s for a sales-related reason,” said 55-year-old non-lens wearing consumer Christine.

While these suspicions were acknowledged by the group, they also agreed that their optician was also an expert of the eyes. “They have a duty of care and there are so many things that they can pick up before it leads to blindness,” consumer Alex said.

“Just like a heart specialist specialises in the heart, my optician specialises in eyes. But I do believe that there is an aspect of sales in there too – perhaps its 90% about the eyes and 10% sales,” said 44-year-old non-lens wearing consumer Rob.

Patient relationships

When consumers in all four focus groups discussed the aftercare appointment, there was a general consensus that consumers were keen to hear the views and recommendations of their practitioner.

When asked about their expectations of their optician when it comes to discussing contact lenses, daily disposable hydrogel lens wearer Sarah said: “You would assume that you are in the best lens as it’s recommended by your optician.”

After learning about silicone hydrogel, some of the consumers currently wearing daily disposable hydrogel lenses said they would be enquiring about daily disposable silicone hydrogel lenses at their next eye care appointment.

The level of satisfaction that consumers had for their lenses appeared to correlate to the level of loyalty that they had with their optician.

Frequent replacement lens wearer Ashleigh had used the same optician for ‘a long time’ and tried various modalities during that period. When speaking about her optician she said: “My optician is really good and if I wanted to try something new, he would give me a trial.”

“He’s honest and will tell me the truth about things,” she added.

A second frequent replacement lens wearer, 55-year-old Janet, expressed fierce loyalty to her optician. “I think it’s because I can see properly now,” she said with a smile.

When it comes to switching lenses, consumers had mixed views.

While contact lens wearers tended to have developed a relationship of trust in their optician, which enabled them to take up their recommendations and value their expertise, non-contact lens wearers demonstrated more curiosity and a willingness to question their optician about the options available to them.

“If I was told that there was only one option, I would ask why,” non-lens wearing consumer Rob said. Similarly, consumer Karen said: “I would question [my optician] without a doubt.”

“I would question my optician and go elsewhere,” added consumer Alex.

Like the majority of non-lens wearers in the group, Rob would also do his own research before visiting his optician. “I would research on the internet about contact lens suppliers and providers to find out about what was available before I went to my appointment,” he said.

Read more about CooperVision’s 2018 insight survey online here. 

Image credit: Getty/6oakean