How can we influence CL wearers to take our advice?

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Current situation

When fitting a patient with contact lenses for the first time, the optimum lens is chosen with the accompanying solutions and case if required. Following instruction on lens application and removal, in addition to appropriate hygiene practices, lens wear and care, the patient is released from the practice in the hope that they will faithfully follow those instructions. The reality is quite different, with non-compliance in some areas of lens wear and care being unavoidable.1

Non-compliance takes many forms, and it is not always deliberate, and often the patient is unaware of their errors.2 Appreciating that non-compliance is very common (Table 1) is an important mind set when embarking on a contact lens aftercare appointment and striving to save patients from themselves. Influencing the patient back to using correct procedures is a challenge. First, the ECP must uncover the areas of non-compliance through careful questioning. Secondly, the patient must be persuaded to change their habits and non-compliant behaviours with the promise of great success in lens wear. A range of contact lens aftercare scenarios will be discussed with methods of correction that use the principles of influence and persuasion.