CooperVision Study Shows 72% of U.S. Doctors Wear 1-Day Silicone Hydrogel Lenses1, While Prescribing of the Same Hovers at Only 33%2
SAN ANTONIO, November 7, 2018—New data from CooperVision shows a disparity between what eye care professionals (ECPs) in the United States choose for their personal contact lens wear versus what they prescribe for patients. Among 183 surveyed U.S. optometrists who wear 1-day contact lenses, 72% prefer a silicone hydrogel product for themselves1, yet only 33% of patients are prescribed the same material.2 In addition, the research revealed that nearly six out of 10 (58%) optometrists who wear 1-day contact lenses choose to only wear silicone hydrogel material.1
“When optometrists are overwhelmingly choosing the healthiest contact lens material for themselves, yet still prescribing it at a substantially lower rate for patients, we have to ask why,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Senior Director, Professional & Academic Affairs, North America, CooperVision. “This new finding adds to our recent study on silicone hydrogel 1-day prescribing. It points to ECP misunderstandings about how patients perceive cost and comfort, leading to missed opportunities to recommend the best contact lens option.”
“1-Day Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Report: Does Professional Practice Align with Consumer Expectations?” was released with widespread interest in August 2018, based on proprietary research among more than 450 ECPs and 1,500 consumers in Japan, the United Kingdom and United States, detailing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. During the American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting this week, CooperVision is sharing U.S.-specific data from the report, supplementing the aggregated global data previously announced.
In the U.S., 96% of ECPs agree that if cost were equivalent they would choose silicone hydrogel over hydrogel for their 1-day patients.3 Yet 74% of U.S. consumers say they expect their ECP to recommend the healthiest option regardless of cost, and 82% of U.S. consumers are likely to follow the advice of their ECP no matter the cost.5
Interestingly, 94% of U.S. ECPs agree that 1-day silicone hydrogel lenses are the best choice to safeguard patient eye health related to contact lens wear3 – yet even ECP self-wear numbers are still well below that level of support.1
Additional data points from the study reveal that U.S. ECPs:
|
Agree that 1-day silicone hydrogel lenses satisfy patients’ demanding lifestyles.3 |
97% |
|
Feel that silicone hydrogels should be the first choice of material for daily disposable lenses.4 |
90% |
|
Agree that 1-day silicone hydrogels provide a better wearing experience than 1-day hydrogels.3 |
89% |
|
Agree that 1-day silicone hydrogel lenses provide better long-term wearing comfort for patients than 1-day hydrogel lenses.3 |
88% |
|
Believe that wearers of 1-day silicone hydrogels have fewer problems than 1-day hydrogel patients.3 |
87% |
|
Refit hydrogel 1-day wearers with 1-day silicone hydrogel to prevent drop-out. 3 |
86% |
|
Agree that wearers of 1-day silicone hydrogels are more satisfied than 1-day hydrogel wearers.3 |
84% |
|
Sometimes worry that their 1-day hydrogel lens wearers are not getting all the oxygen they require.3 |
71% |
CooperVision offers ECPs the broadest 1-day silicone hydrogel portfolio in the world, including clariti® 1 day contact lenses, with pricing similar to many hydrogels; and MyDay® daily disposable contact lenses.
To download a copy of the global study, please visit coopervision.com/silicone-hydrogel-report.
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1 CooperVision study conducted by kublic llc in the U.S. August 2018. Total 1-day wearer sample size n=183.
2 Industry reports and internal estimates.
3 ECP perception of the benefits of 1-day silicone hydrogels. February 2018. Cello Health Insight. Data on file. Survey carried out online in U.S., U.K. and Japan. Total sample size n=300 (100 ECPs in each country).
4 Barriers to 1-day silicone hydrogel research. July 2017. Cello Health Insight. Data on file. Survey carried out online in U.S., U.K. and Japan. Total sample size n=158 (US n=61, UK n=47, Japan n=50).
5 Silicone hydrogel lenses. 2018. YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1520 adults who wear contact lenses. Fieldwork undertaken March 26 - April 3, 2018. Survey carried out online.
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses. The Company produces a full array of monthly, two-week and daily disposable contact lenses, all featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision has a strong heritage of solving the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism and presbyopia; and offers the most complete collection of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.
About The Cooper Companies
The Cooper Companies, Inc. ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper is dedicated to being A Quality of Life Company™ with a focus on delivering shareholder value. Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on women’s health, fertility and diagnostics. Headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., Cooper has more than 12,000 employees with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
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Heather Kowalczyk, APR | Associate Vice President
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