New U.S. Consumer Data Exposes Opportunities for Older Patients, Features-Benefits Awareness Levels, and Future Product Expectations
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2022—Ahead of its live webinars for the eye care community, the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) today shared additional findings from its recent research with nearly 1,000 U.S. adults who require vision correction. These include practice-building insights on significant opportunities with older patients, barriers to wear, and expectations for technological advancements.
The new data builds on a range of information made public earlier this month by the industry association as part of its See Tomorrow initiative (SeeTomorrowNow.com), which is designed to help practices understand and thrive as consumer beliefs and behaviors evolve. The research—and pearls on how to apply it for patient and practice success—will be explored in depth during CLI’s “Revealed!” webinars on May 3rd at 6 pm EDT and 9 pm EDT. Free registration is now open for the earlier session at https://bit.ly/Revealed-EastCoast and the later session at https://bit.ly/Revealed-WestCoast.
[Editor’s Note: Infographics for the latest data release are embedded below.]
The latest discoveries include:
- Presbyopia remains a massive opportunity for the eye care community to increase value to patients—and practice growth—through contact lens fitting. Among all adults ages 55+, 67% use prescription glasses and 38% use reading glasses, but only 6% wear contact lenses. In the same age group, only 4% recall their eye care practitioner having discussed contact lenses as a potential alternative to readers during their last two office visits.
- Investment in myopia management education is breaking through. Vision-corrected parents of children under 18 are more than twice as likely to know that contact lenses that slow the progression of myopia are available today compared to parents of older children.
- Significant upside exists to inform patients about contact lenses that offer novel benefits. Only 5% of vision-corrected adults believe that lenses are available that administer drugs directly to the eye, and just 56% understand that colored lenses are an option.
- Two of the top barriers to contact lens wear are addressable by eye care professionals. With 1 in 3 people (34%) stating they don’t wear contact lenses or use them more frequently because of comfort issues, practitioners should think about this from the initial fit; positive first impressions increase retention. Another 1 in 5 vision-corrected adults state they don’t wear contact lenses or use them more frequently because care is perceived to be difficult, yet CLI’s The EASY Way program and fast-growing options such as daily disposable lenses prove otherwise.
- Consumers see augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and fitness tracking-enabled contact lenes as rapidly moving from science fiction to commercial availability. Within the next five years, 24% of adults believe that AR/VR contacts will be available and 25% believe that health monitoring lenses will be obtainable—presenting practitioners with door opening opportunities to discuss the benefits of current contact lens technologies and benefits.
During the webinars, participants will divulge and reflect on additional consumer survey data not yet made public, including consumer perceptions of contact lens pricing and value. The panelists—all 2022 CLI Visionaries—are Klaus Ito, OD; Essence Johnson, OD, FAAO; Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FSLES; and Jennifer Lyerly, OD. CLI Board members Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO and Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO will moderate.
The Contact Lens Institute advances the latest innovations in safe and effective contact lens and lens care products and services that provide unique benefits to patients while satisfying the evolving needs of eye care professionals. CLI undertakes activities that properly assess, enhance, promote, and balance contact lens and lens care industry welfare and growth, including the safe use of products in the marketplace. Its members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. For more information, visit contactlensinstitute.org.
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All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,214 adults, 959 of whom require vision correction. Fieldwork was undertaken between 8th – 9th March 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. vision corrected adults (aged 18+) unless otherwise stated.
MEDIA CONTACT
Aimee J. Lewis, McDougall Communications for the Contact Lens Institute
+1.585.414.9838 or aimee@mcdougallpr.com
Click to Download the Above Infographic (Older Adults)
Click to Download the Above Infographic (Myopia Management)
Click to Download the Above Infographic (Addressable Barriers)
Click to Download the Above Infographic (Novel Benefits)
