Page 24 - Jan-Feb 2025

CLI SURVEY When it came to actions that encouraged continued wear,

ON CONTACT patients identified three key factors: ensuring prescriptions are
updated to suit lifestyle changes (69% new wearers, 57% long-term
LENSES wearers), providing trial lenses for new prescriptions (69% new
wearers, 66% long-term wearers), and emphasising proper lens care
(67% new wearers, 51% long-term wearers).
New consumer data from The data also reinforced the importance of engaging the entire
the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) practice staff in patient communication. Among long-term wearers,
reveals that simple, high-impact 59 percent revealed that their eye doctor influenced their decision
actions by eyecare practices can to continue using contact lenses while in new wearers, this figure
significantly boost retention jumped to 74 percent.
rates among new contact lens
wearers. Rogaski concluded, “After spending months focusing on
attracting new contact lens wearers, we’re now shifting attention to
CLI shared their findings keeping current wearers engaged and enthusiastic.”
at last year’s Vision Expo West
conference held in Las Vegas, as
part of its ongoing See Tomorrow
initiative. The nationwide survey GRANT FOR DEVELOPING
showed that while new (less
than two years) and long-term CONTACT LENS TO
(two years or more) contact lens REPAIR EYE DAMAGE
users share many similarities in
factors influencing their decision
to continue wearing lenses, there Researchers from the University of Liverpool, UK,
are key differences that practices have been awarded a £2.1 million grant to develop a contact
can leverage to enhance patient lens that helps repair eye damage. The three-year project
satisfaction and retention. will focus on transferring corneal epithelial cells to the ocular
According to previous studies, surface using a soft contact lens, helping wounds heal faster
one in four new wearers often and more effectively.
dropped out within the first year.
“New wearers benefit from more Dr. Hannah Levis, a reader in ophthalmic bioengineering,
personalised care, attention eye and vision sciences at the University of Liverpool,
from the entire practice team, explained, “Unfortunately, standard treatments tend to
and additional encouragement be ineffective. Sadly, this results in patients experiencing
and training,” said Stan Rogaski, prolonged discomfort and diminished vision.”
CLI’s executive director. “These
efforts result in happier, healthier Dr. Levis further stated that the current healthcare system
patients, who are more likely to is costly, with patients requiring frequent examinations.
continue wearing contact lenses “We’re delighted to have received this funding to carry
long-term.” out this important work that will positively impact patient
welfare but also provide cost-saving alternatives for
Survey results showed healthcare services,” she said.
that 86 percent of long-term
wearers rated their satisfaction The project is funded by the Medical Research Council
as high (8-10 on a 10-point scale), Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme and is being
compared to 67 percent of new carried out in partnership with the Scottish National Blood
wearers. Overall dissatisfaction Transfusion Service. Researchers hope this work will lead to
was rare among long-term users, a more effective treatment for corneal injuries in the future
with only 2 percent rating their
satisfaction below 5.

20 ̶ THE INDIAN OPTICIAN | JAN-FEB 2025 | CONTACT LENS NEWS