A survey of more than 5,000 contact lens wearers1 sheds light on the deeper, emotional benefits people gain from wearing contact lenses. Commissioned by CooperVision as part of its Consumer Insight Series, the research has been incorporated into a new downloadable practice guide, Beyond Vision Correction: The Real Impact of Contact Lens Wear on Patients. It is available here.
“We initiated this project to help eye care professionals (ECP) recognize and articulate
sometimes overlooked emotional benefits of contact lenses, yet which play essential roles in patient choice and ongoing satisfaction,” says Dr. Gary Orsborn, Vice President, Global
Professional, Medical and Clinical Affairs for CooperVision. “Contact lenses’ ability to emotionally enable and empower people are powerful motivators. This data has the potential to stimulate more trials, purchase, retention and wearer delight, becoming a valuable tool with which ECPs can enhance their practices.”
Consumer opinions from Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan and the United States
were represented in the work. Enablement themes were prominent, with 89 percent of
respondents agreeing that contact lenses “have improved by quality of life” and “allow me to live my life on my own terms.” So too were feelings of empowerment, with more than four in five people stating they “feel attractive when wearing them,” “make me feel confident,” and “think I look natural.”
When compared to wearing their spectacles, 78 percent believe “they see better in contact
lenses,” including presbyopes aged 55 and over. Another 79 percent stated that “contact lenses make me feel more like myself” compared to spectacles wear.
“There’s significant opportunity for prescribing both spectacles and contact lenses to patients. Dual correction happens in an estimated 27 percent of cases,2 which is remarkably low considering advancements in materials, lens design, and wearer preferences. Our hope is that ECPs will embrace these insights and recognize the power they hold to improve patients’ quality of life and confidence, through the simple act of fitting contact lenses,” says Dr. Orsborn.
The guide also offers straightforward advice for incorporating the survey insights into practice, including making contact lens recommendations part of the daily routine and providing a short-term contact lens experience to rapidly highlight the emotional benefits.
References
- Contact lens consumer confidence online survey, conducted Nov-Dec 2019 by YouGovPlc. Total of 5,347 contact lens wearers in five countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and the United States).
2. CVI data on file 2019. Industry and market data, U.S. consumer contact lens market in 2018.
