Practitioners urged to remember contact lens aftercare

Practitioners must ensure they offer aftercare advice to all patients, however long they have been wearing contact lenses, following research which shows less than half received care advice at their last appointment.

 The General Optical Council (GOC) has published research, carried out by BMG, which looks at the views and habits of over 2,000 contact lens wearers. The study showed that only 43 per cent of wearers saw contact lenses as a healthcare product, the same percentage saw them as a lifestyle product and 12 per cent as a cosmetic product.

Alistair Bridge, GOC director of strategy said the research highlighted the need for coordinated activity across the sector to ensure the public understands that contact lenses are a healthcare product and require diligent care. ‘We want patients to receive and follow appropriate advice from their optician to ensure they are wearing their lenses safely and protecting their eyes,’ he said.