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First Experiences with 1 Day Silicone Hydrogels
New Insights from Eye Care Professionals and Contact Lens Wearers
The use of 1 Day silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses has grown steadily since their initial launch more than 10 years ago.¹ But eye care professionals (ECPs) still don’t fit patients with SiHy 1 Day lenses as often as they fit patients with SiHy frequently replaced reusable lenses (63% vs 80%).¹
This most recent survey focused on first-time wearers ² , ³:
The research was conducted with ECPs and new 1 Day SiHy wearers in Italy and Japan, which were chosen to help determine whether access to contact lenses influences outcomes.
The results offer new insights you can
use
to proactively recommend
1 Day SiHy in
your practice.
Here are 3 important areas to consider:
1 The disconnect between ECP beliefs about 1 Day SiHy and their fitting practices
We know from previous
surveys
that
about 90% of ECPs in Japan⁴ and other
countries⁵ believe in the health and
comfort benefits of SiHy material for
1 Day wearers. But when ECPs in the new
survey were asked which material they
preferred for their 1 Day fits, they said:
SiHy
40% Italy
54% Japan
No preference
46% Italy
36% Japan
Hydrogel
14% Italy
10% Japan
Respondents were 100 ECPs (Italy n=50, Japan n=50),
and
149 consumers who had started wearing 1 Day SiHy within
the previous 18 months (Italy n=100, Japan n=49).
The disconnect is likely related in part to perceived patient affordability:
And ECPs weren’t
sure
the
benefits of 1 Day SiHy
justified the cost:
And most indicated they would likely choose 1 Day SiHy lenses if their ECP recommended them:
32%
strongly believed that the benefits of SiHy are worth the extra cost
68%
were neutral regarding benefits vs. cost
And most indicated they would likely choose 1 Day SiHy lenses if their ECP recommended them:
85%
conveyed high levels of trust in their ECPs’ recommendations
91% Italy
78% Japan
The gap between beliefs and fitting practices existed even though ECPs and wearers expressed the same primary goals for their contact lenses:
The gap between beliefs and fitting practices existed even though ECPs and wearers expressed the same primary goals for their contact lenses:
In both Japan and Italy, the top 5 benefits named by ECPs who recommended 1 Day SiHy to their patients were all related to 2 primary benefits:
Answers mirrored those of ECPs when asked to name the most important factors in choosing a contact lens:
Comfort performance
Oxygen permeability
(and related health benefits)
Answers mirrored those of ECPs when asked to name the most important factors in choosing a contact lens:
2 Sources of Information
ECPs and wearers are both inclined to seek out more-informed opinions when they look for information about 1 Day SiHy lenses.
ECPs and wearers are both inclined to seek out more-informed opinions when they look for information about 1 Day SiHy lenses.
ECPs look especially to sales reps, but they also rely on information they get from conferences, journals, trade magazines and colleagues.
Wearers most commonly look to online reviews or manufacturers’ websites. But they’re most interested in what other people say.
In Italy, 71% place high levels of trust in the information provided by practice staff.
In Japan, 74% highly trust what they learn from family and friends.
3 ECP/Patient Communication
But ECPs
estimated
that only
about
of surveyed patients said they’d requested a specific contact lens brand from their ECPs.
had made such a request.
In response to, How often do wearers request a specific contact lens brand? ECPs said:
In response to, Do those who ask receive that particular lens? ECPs said:
When asked, Do (or did) you request a specific contact lens brand?
When asked, Do
(or
did) you request
a specific
contact lens brand?
Wearers often miss out on the important information they need to make educated decisions.
Wearers often miss out on the
important information
they need to
make educated decisions.
of ECPs feel strongly that they should discuss high oxygen delivering materials with patients, and 56% recall sharing that benefit.
remembered being told about good oxygen permeability (and even fewer remembered hearing about any other benefits).
of ECPs feel strongly that they should discuss high oxygen delivering materials with patients, and 56% recall sharing that benefit.
remembered being told about good oxygen permeability (and even fewer remembered hearing about any other benefits).
Wearers also displayed significant gaps in knowledge about the features and advantages of 1 Day SiHy lenses:
Though all 149 surveyed consumers were wearing 1 Day SiHy:
Though all 149 surveyed consumers were wearing 1 Day SiHy:
These new insights confirm that ECPs believe in the benefits of 1 Day SiHy, but highlight that they don’t always recommend them.
Consumers who’ve never worn contact lenses before still have expectations and are looking for comfort and eye health, so reinforcing that 1 Day SiHy can deliver these benefits will resonate with them.
Remember that it is not about being a “salesperson,” but rather about making a professional recommendation and focusing — throughout all the touchpoints of your practice — on education.
Since patients appreciate that you have their best interests at heart, and understand the benefits they can receive from the lens technology you fit them with, you’ll enable many more new wearers to experience the benefits of contact lenses.
REFERENCES:
- Morgan P, Woods C, Tranoudis IG, et al. International Contact Lens Prescribing in 2019. Contact Lens Spectrum 2020;35:26-32.
- CVI data on file, 2020. Cello Health Insight online survey; Italy n=50 & Japan n=50 – ECPs who prescribe 1 Day SiHy. In.
- CVI data on file, 2020. Cello Health Insight online survey; Italy n=100 & Japan n= 49 – New Wearer patients wearing 1 Day SiHy. In.
- Orsborn G, Muraoka T. Japan ECPs’ Perceptions About 1 Day Silicone Hydrogel Lenses. In: BCLA Asia. Singapore; 2018.
- Orsborn G, Dumbleton K. Eye care professionals' perceptions of the benefits of daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Contact lens & anterior eye 2019;42:373-9.
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