Verum writes

This column in June highlighted that few UK practitioners are real advocates of contact lenses, with the majority failing to offer this mode of correction to their patients. The obvious question is, why is there this reluctance to offer an optical solution that has benefits to patients, professionals and the practice?

My suspicion is that many who do not actively fit or offer contact lenses have either never been confident or have lost confidence in their knowledge of contact lenses and their ability to fit. Undergraduates do not have wide exposure to fitting lenses and come out of university with little practical experience. It will then be up to the supervisor in the pre-registration year to enthuse the student and offer a range of fitting experiences. However, at this time, the student is understandably most interested in passing examinations. Unless the supervisor is a real advocate of contact lenses, the bare minimum is done. So the newly qualified practitioner only has basic knowledge and skills to fit contact lenses. But if they do not then take this forward, they do not gain progress and gain confidence.