Misperceptions about silicone hydrogel contact lenses revealed in report

A new report on 1-day silicone hydrogel contact lenses has highlighted disparities between what patients want and what is prescribed in practice.

CooperVision surveyed 450 eye care practitioners and 1500 consumers in the UK, Japan and the US for its 1-day silicone hydrogel contact lens report: Does professional practice align with consumer expectations?

The report addresses common misperceptions about silicone hydrogel lenses that are held by practitioners and reveals gaps that have been self-created when compared to patients’ needs, according to contact lens company.

Vice president of global clinical and professional affairs, Dr Gary Orsborn, said: “We found eye care professionals’ reluctance to recommend a 1-day silicone hydrogel lens is often because of misunderstandings about cost, allergy and comfort – self-imposed barriers to adoption that run counter to the data.”

CooperVision found that 95% of practitioners agree that if cost were equivalent, they would choose silicone hydrogel over hydrogel for their 1-day contact lens patients, but feel restrained out of concern for patients’ budgets.

However, 68% of consumers said they expect their practitioner to recommend the healthiest option regardless of cost and 75% said they are likely to follow advice no matter the cost.

“Patients are interested in wearing the healthiest lenses for their eyes, want to hear about those options, and are willing to pay for what their eye care professional recommends,” Dr Orsborn added.