Viewpoint: Contact lens compliance must start with ‘why’

The contact lens ‘compliance’ conversation has been a key one in the optical industry for quite some time now. Significant funds have been invested, complex behavioural psychology models have been developed, all with the intention of getting more lens wearers to follow appropriate aftercare advice.

But despite these efforts, a recent CDC study identified that 99% of lens wearers are non-compliant in at least one way. This has to be disappointing given the attention being paid to this issue. So, if the current conversation is failing to have a significant impact, isn’t it time to change the conversation?

I suppose you could say I bring a unique perspective to the conversation. I’m an innovation and communications strategist by profession, with 15 years at the top of the marketing industry. And I contracted Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) in 2011. It was a debilitating infection, excruciatingly painful and extremely difficult to cope with. Five years on, I am still dealing with the after effects of the disease – including permanent loss of vision in my right eye.