May 2, 2024 — As part of its See Tomorrow initiative, the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has published a report describing everyday actions that eyecare professionals can implement to create interest in contact lenses among potential and former wearers.

The 26-page report, “Beyond Vision: Behaviors to Attract New & Returning Contact Lens Wearers,” is based on research with more than 1,000 vision-corrected adults who were segmented as glasses-only wearers, new contact lens wearers, and contact lens dropouts. Multiple infographics depict high-value takeaways ideal for staff training, CLI shares, in addition to quick-take columns and bulleted checklists that offer practical implementation tips, all of which were contributed by 2024 CLI Visionaries.

“The tremendous untapped potential for the category is unmistakable. Our research found specific areas of consumer excitement, concern, and misperception that eyecare practices can leverage to aid more efficient and effective contact lens conversations among likely candidates,” says CLI executive director Stan Rogaski. “Better yet, these aspects can be reinforced easily and quickly across the entire patient experience, from appointment scheduling to the exam to follow-up, by every member of the practice team.”

Here are a few key takeaways from the report:

• Sixty-six percent of glasses wearers and 46% of new contact lens wearers report optometrists and ophthalmologists as the leading source of contact lens influence, followed by opticians (44% and 26%), and friends and family (40% and 31%).
• An eyecare provider’s explanation of the benefits of contact lenses placed first at 66% on a ranking of 25 factors that can aid potential wearers’ consideration of contacts, followed by understanding insertion and removal (52%), taking trial lenses home (51%), and knowledge of the range of price and performance options (47%).
• Among new wearers, the top motivations for trying contact lenses were freedom from glasses (44%), personal appearance (42%), and ease of use (39%).
• The most exciting contact lens advancements were led by contacts for digital device use and UV protection, tied at 64%, followed by toric designs (46%) and UV protection (43%).
• Practice behaviors that detract from contact lens trials include a lack of mention from exam staff, not alerting patients they were candidates, and not providing contact lens information—all cited by about 20% of glasses-only respondents.
• Fear factors that dissuade potential wearers from contact lens trials are not wanting to touch their eye (44%), affordability (30%), infection concerns (25%), and misperceptions that having dry eye (27%) and astigmatism (17%) prevent contact lens wear.