You may, by now, have seen new research highlighting the apparent non-compliance of contact lens patients, with the YouGov poll for Fight for Sight reporting that 54% of wearers coming into contact with water while wearing their lenses.
The survey found that 56% of respondents admitted to wearing their lenses for more than 12 hours a day, while 54% swam or showered in their contact lenses and 47% said that they had slept in their contact lenses, in stark contrast to clinical advice.
Clearly, these figures are not what we want to see and appear concerning. But they should also serve as a reminder to eye care practitioners of the importance of educating patients at the point of fitting and an opportunity to share best practice and refresh our current aftercare procedures.
As a profession and industry, we all need to do more to make sure the ‘No Water’ message hits home. The BCLA has been at the forefront of supporting and delivering this messaging for many years, with the supply of the No Water stickers for practices to add to the packaging of contact lenses. Clearly, more is needed.
Whatever is decided, we have to make sure the message is clear. We must avoid any confusion and need to make sure patients are comfortable and confident in their contact lenses.
Contact lenses remain a safe, healthy, lifelong solution for vision correction.
So, let’s all take notice of this survey and see it as an opportunity, not a threat. Let’s pledge to reinforce the importance of promoting contact lens hygiene and help patients to understand how to wear their contact lenses safely. Let’s make the most of the resources already available to us and come up with new ways to make sure the ‘No Water’ message hits home.
Jonathon Bench
President, BCLA