What is the willingness to pay for soft toric contact lenses?

The use of soft toric contact lenses is widespread in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom but this is not a universal trend. Previous work has shown that around 45% of people require an astigmatic correction of 0.75DC (ie a clinically significant amount) in one or both eyes² and when soft lens fits are scrutinised in the UK, the fitting rate is at about this level.^3-5

This is not the case worldwide⁴ and it seems that these variations are unlikely to be attributable to ethnic differences in the level of astigmatism.^6,7 A range of factors could account for reduced rates of soft toric lens prescribing, including the clinical competence, educational background and communication skills of the prescribing practitioner.