ACLM finds silicone hydrogel wearers double in 12 months

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses have doubled in popularity with UK patients in the past year, new figures reveal.

The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM) has reported that 407,798 patients wore silicone hydrogel lenses in 2005, compared to 180,299 in 2004, representing a market value increase from over £12m to almost 20m.

'Forward thinking practitioners are recognising that silicone hydrogel is a superior material for lenses and are promoting them as an option to their patients,' said ACLM secretary general Simon Rodwell.

'One of the biggest problems with contact lens wear is the drop-out rate, so it is good to promote the technology that is designed to overcome this. I see this as a useful and welcome development.'

This increase comes after changes to the Section 60 order concerning the sale of contact lenses last June and the introduction of the large supermarkets Asda and Tesco in to the contact lens 'price war'.

However, Rodwell believes it is too early for changes in legislation to impact upon contact lens sales.

'I don't think the law changes will have made much difference to results. It takes a while for these changes to get into the system,' he said.

The statistics also showed that over 447 million contact lenses were sold in the UK last year with a market value split of 55 per cent daily disposables, 24 per cent soft frequent replacement lenses, 12 per cent silicone hydrogels, 4 per cent soft traditional lenses and 6 per cent rigid lenses.

The total number of UK contact lens wearers was also shown to have more than doubled in the past 13 years from 1.6 million to 3.3 million, demonstrating the increased trend towards this form of correction. This represents 6.7 per cent of adults and is an increase of 2 per cent on 2004.