Contact lens compliance made easy
Many contact lens wearers reduced their usage during the pandemic, writes Nick Warburton, and opportunities to fit new lenses were restricted. Optometrists have adapted their support, but is it enough to stop drop-outs?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced optometrists to implement new practices and teaching methods fast for new contact lens (CL) wearers, but it also created an unexpected problem for CL users generally: a change in perception about how much they need them.
During a four-day survey by the University of Manchester in April 2020, 72% of CL wearers reported wearing their lenses less during the first UK lockdown. While the study concentrated on CL wearers in general, rather than new CL wearers specifically, the findings show a key reason for less CL use was a “perception of less need” for CL while the respondents were confined to their homes.
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Related further reading
The College of Optometrists has issued a statement in response to news reports that many soft contact lenses in the US contain compounds called fluoropolymers, which are also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
As society continues to open up, the Optometry in Practice editorial board thought it opportune to reflect on the experiences of the pandemic to date and assess the impact on both eyecare professionals and our patients.
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