Optimising contact lens wear for a lifetime of use

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One chance to create a first impression

With clinical data reporting improved quality of life and good acceptance of CLs in children as young as eight years old,1 some contact lens wearers fitted in 2013 could be using lenses for decades ahead. As such, the first few days with contact lenses take on very great importance and it is important that this is carefully managed by ECPs.

Studies with first-time CL wearers suggest that there is an increased likelihood of ceasing lens wear early on, typically due to issues related to comfort, vision or lens handling.2,3 In fact, industry data indicate that 21 per cent of CL drop-outs stop using their lenses in the first month of wear.4 As such, managing the first few days and weeks of lens wear is very important. As part of their clinical training, ECPs are generally advised that new CL wearers should be eased into lens wear and given time to adapt to their new lenses. However, how this is typically done in modern practice is unknown, so a web-based survey was established to provide information about the advice which is typically provided to contact lens wearers. This survey was completed in January and February 2013 by 186 ECPs from 26 countries. Most ECPs were optometrists (154) or CL opticians (22) with the largest response rate from the UK (116).