Refitting contact lens dropouts into a modern daily disposable contact lens.

PURPOSE: To determine the number of previous contact lens (CL) wearers who could be comfortably refitted into delefilcon A (DAILIES TOTAL1®) CLs. METHODS: This was a 6-month, three-visit study that recruited subjects who discontinued CLs within the past 2 years because of discomfort or dryness symptoms. Subjects were required to have Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire scores ≤3 and to be able to wear spherical study CLs. Subjects were asked to complete a ±50 comfort visual analogue scale (VAS) at 1 month and a Likert questionnaire after 1 and 6 months of CL wear to understand the subjects' CL experience. RESULTS: All 60 subjects who were fitted with the study CLs were still wearing them after 1 month, while one subject had dropped out by 6 months. Subjects had a median (interquartile range) age of 24.0 (7.0) years (71.7% female). They reported a median VAS score of 44.0 (8.0) units at the 1-month visit, with all reporting a comfortable score. At the 1-month/6-month visits, 98.3%/93.2%, 86.5%/78.0% and 93.2%/91.5% of subjects responded that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their vision, their end-of-day CL comfort and overall CL comfort, respectively. The same subjects responded that they were very likely or likely to continue to wear the study CLs at 1 (89.6%) and 6 months (80.7%) and to recommend the study CLs to a friend at 1 (98.3%) and 6 months (93.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that when encountering a CL dropout, a practitioner could educate a patient about trying an alternative CL and consider delefilcon A lenses as an option.

Corneal Infections Associated with Sleeping in Contact Lenses - Six Cases, United States, 2016-2018.

Contact lenses, when worn and cared for properly, are a safe and effective form of vision correction used by an estimated 45 million Americans. However, contact lens wearers are at risk for contact lens-related eye infections, especially when wearers do not practice proper contact lens wear and care habits. These infections, affecting the cornea and known as microbial keratitis (Figure), can lead to serious adverse health outcomes. Because contact lenses are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as medical devices, contact lens-related corneal infections should be reported to FDA as an adverse event. To illustrate their serious health implications, six cases of contact lens-related corneal infection, in which sleeping in lenses was reported as the main risk factor, are presented. Consequences of infection reported among the identified cases included the need for frequent administration of antibiotic eye drops, multiple follow-up medical appointments, and permanent eye damage. Health education measures directed toward contact lens wearers should emphasize raising awareness of the risks of sleeping in contact lenses as well as adherence to all recommendations for the wear and care of contact lenses. Additional measures are needed to educate eye care professionals about the need to report contact lens-related corneal infections to MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program (https://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/).

[Evaluation of the quality of life of patients fitted with scleral lenses using a Moroccan version of NEI-VFQ 25]. / Évaluation de la qualité de vie des patients équipés en verres scléraux à l'aide d'une version marocaine du NEI-VFQ 25.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contribution of scleral lenses in terms of improving quality of life and vision. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of the quality of life (QOL) of patients fitted with scleral lenses, between November 2015 and November 2016 in the Marrakech university hospital department of ophthalmology. QOL was assessed before and after scleral lens (ICD) adaptation using a version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 translated into the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. RESULTS: We included 48 patients (68 eyes). The main indications included severe corneal ectasia followed by post-keratoplasty eyes, post-traumatic corneas and patients with ocular surface disease. The average duration of scleral lens wear was 6 months, and the average wearing time was 12hours per day. BCVA increased from 0.8 to 0.2±0.5 LOGMAR. The average scores on the NEI-VFQ 25 of patients after scleral lens fitting were significantly higher, 80.5 versus 42.6 before wearing scleral lenses, thus an increase of 38.1. DISCUSSION: Quality of life has become a major issue in the healthcare field, which has seen a renewed interest in ophthalmology lately. The results of our study support the data from previous studies regarding the impact of scleral lenses on the quality of life of patients. CONCLUSION: High oxygen permeability scleral lenses are a satisfying therapeutic alternative, allowing a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients for whom the usual therapeutic means are limited.

Patient Acceptance of Sustained Glaucoma Treatment Strategies.

PURPOSE: To assess patient acceptance of different methods for delivering sustained-release, intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications. METHODS: Electronic surveys were administered to 150 patients at 2 glaucoma clinics. Participants were questioned on their willingness to accept: (1) drug-eluting contact lenses, (2) ring inserts (3) punctal plugs, and (4) subconjunctival injections as alternatives to IOP-lowering eye drops based on various success levels. Multivariable logistic regression models determined the association between device type and treatment acceptance adjusting for age, sex, study site, cost burden of drops, and previous contact lens use. RESULTS: The majority (69%) of participants were 55 to 74 years of age, and white (65%), and half were female. The majority of participants would accept contacts (59%), rings (51%), plugs (57%), and subconjunctival injections (52%) if they obviated glaucoma surgery; fewer would accept these devices if they reduced (23% to 35%) or eliminated (27% to 42%) drops. Most participants would also accept contacts (56%), plugs (55%), and subconjunctival injections (53%) if they were more effective than eye drops, whereas only 47% would accept a ring; fewer would accept any device if it were equally or less effective than drops. Participants were also 36% (95% confidence interval=0.44-0.92; P=0.02) less likely to accept rings and 32% (95% confidence interval=0.47-0.98; P=0.04) less likely to accept subconjunctival injections as compared with contacts. CONCLUSION: Most glaucoma patients considered sustained drug-delivery modalities acceptable alternatives to IOP-lowering eye drops, but only when they were said to obviate surgery or demonstrate greater efficacy than eye drops.

Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections Among Adults and Adolescents - United States, 2016.

Contact lens-related eye infections, which can lead to serious outcomes, including blindness, are associated with several risk factors, including sleeping in lenses, exposing lenses to water, not adhering to replacement schedules, and reusing disinfecting solution (1). In some studies, adolescent and young adult contact lens wearers have been reported to be more likely than older adult contact lens wearers to develop eye infections (2,3) and more likely to have poor contact lens hygiene practices (2). In 2015, CDC reported the number and demographics of adult contact lens wearers in the United States to define the population at risk for contact lens-related eye infections (4); however, this estimate did not include adolescents. To better understand this group of younger contact lens wearers and guide prevention efforts, a population-based survey was used to assess contact lens wear, care behaviors, risk factors, and demographics among persons aged 12-17 years (referred to as adolescents in this report), young adults aged 18-24 years, and older adults aged ≥25 years in the United States. In 2016, an estimated 3.6 million adolescents (14.5%) wore contact lenses. Of the adolescents who wore contact lenses, 85% reported at least one behavior that put them at risk for a contact lens-related eye infection, compared with 81% of young adults, and 88% of older adults. These findings can inform the creation of age-specific targeted prevention messages aimed at contact lens wearers and establish a baseline for evaluating trends in contact lens wear, care habits, and contact lens-related risk behaviors.

Health beliefs affect the correct replacement of daily disposable contact lenses: Predicting compliance with the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour.

PURPOSE: To assess the compliance of Daily Disposable Contact Lenses (DDCLs) wearers with replacing lenses at a manufacturer-recommended replacement frequency. To evaluate the ability of two different Health Behavioural Theories (HBT), The Health Belief Model (HBM) and The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), in predicting compliance. METHOD: A multi-centre survey was conducted using a questionnaire completed anonymously by contact lens wearers during the purchase of DDCLs. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-four questionnaires were returned. The survey comprised 58.5% females and 41.5% males (mean age 34±12years). Twenty-three percent of respondents were non-compliant with manufacturer-recommended replacement frequency (re-using DDCLs at least once). The main reason for re-using DDCLs was "to save money" (35%). Predictions of compliance behaviour (past behaviour or future intentions) on the basis of the two HBT was investigated through logistic regression analysis: both TPB factors (subjective norms and perceived behavioural control) were significant (p<0.01); HBM was less predictive with only the severity (past behaviour and future intentions) and perceived benefit (only for past behaviour) as significant factors (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-compliance with DDCLs replacement is widespread, affecting 1 out of 4 Italian wearers. Results from the TPB model show that the involvement of persons socially close to the wearers (subjective norms) and the improvement of the procedure of behavioural control of daily replacement (behavioural control) are of paramount importance in improving compliance. With reference to the HBM, it is important to warn DDCLs wearers of the severity of a contact-lens-related eye infection, and to underline the possibility of its prevention.

Factors in the success of new contact lens wearers.

PURPOSE: To determine the first-year retention rate for patients fitted with contact lenses (CLs) and identify factors associated with retention and dropout. METHODS: This multi-site study was a retrospective chart review of the status of neophyte CL wearers fitted in representative UK eye care practices. RESULTS: Consecutive records for 524 patients at 29 sites were reviewed. Mean age at dispensing was 34 years (range 8-79), 68% were under 45 years and 61% female. Soft CLs were fitted to 98% of patients. After 12 months, 388 were still CL wearers, a retention rate of 74% (95% CI: 70.1-77.6). Of the 136 lapsed, 25% discontinued during the first month and 47% within 60 days. The main reasons cited for discontinuation included poor distance vision (26%; of whom, 37% were toric and 51% multifocal), poor near vision (16%), discomfort (14%) and handling problems (15%). In 32% of cases, the reasons for discontinuation were unknown. For 71% of dropouts, no alternative lens or management strategy had been tried. Significant factors associated with retention in univariate analysis were: age (younger), sphere power (higher), lens type (sphere vs multifocal) and purchase frequency (regular). Multivariate analysis showed lens sphere power, purchase frequency and lens material to be significant factors. There was a wide variation in retention rates between sites (40-100%). CONCLUSIONS: During the first year of CL wear, the overall retention rate for neophyte CL wearers was 74% (spherical CLs 79%, torics 73%, multifocals 57%), with many lapsing during the first 2 months. Factors associated with retention and dropout in these patients include: lens power, material and type, and purchase frequency. While handling and comfort are the most commonly cited performance-related reasons for discontinuing in new spherical lens wearers, visual problems are the most common among new wearers of toric and, in particular, multifocal CLs.

Perfil demográfico e comportamental de pacientes com indicação médica óptica de lentes de contato / Demographic and behavioral profile of patients with optic medical indication of contact lenses

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar o perfil demográfico e comportamental de pacientes com indicação médica óptica de lentes de contato (LC) em um hospital público de Curitiba. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado através de questionário em pacientes atendidos no serviço de lentes de contato do ambulatório do SUS do Hospital de Olhos do Paraná, no período de 02 de setembro de 2014 a 04 de agosto de 2015. Resultados: Dos 69 entrevistados, 56,52% fizeram LC. Destes, 55,07% têm entre 20-49 anos, 69,56% são mulheres, 40,58% com ensino médio completo e 36,23% com 2 a 6 salários mínimos. Predominaram a lente rígida com 66,67%, com menos de 8 horas de uso em 41,02% e desconforto durante o uso em 59%. A limpeza das LC é feita ao colocar e ao retirar em 87,18% dos casos, com 71,8% utilizando solução própria para LC. Alto custo da compra foi o principal motivo do não uso de LC, com 70% dos pacientes que não fizeram uso desse recurso. Conclusões: Dos entrevistados, 56,52% iniciaram o uso de LC, sendo o ceratocone a doença mais indicada. Foi demonstrado nesse estudo que os pacientes em questão têm boa orientação quanto a manuseio e manutenção das LC. Apesar dos inquestionáveis avanços da tecnologia médica, continuam ocorrendo a desistência do uso desse recurso principalmente pelo custo e medo do manuseio. É responsabilidade do especialista esclarecer os benefícios que os pacientes com indicação médica terão com o uso de LC, assim como motivar o seu uso.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the demographic and behavioral profile of patients with optic medical indication of contact lenses (CL) in a public hospital in Curitiba. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire study of patients who attended the contact lens service of the national health system (SUS) outpatient clinic from the "Hospital de Olhos do Paraná" between September 2nd, 2014 and August 4th, 2015. Results: Of the 69 people interviewed, 56.52% acquired CL. Of these, 55.07% are between 20-49 years old, 69.56% are women, 40.58% had finished high school and 36.23% earned a salary of 2 to 6 times the minimum wage. Rigid lenses prevailed, representing 66.67% of the total, with less than 8 hours of usage in 41.02% of the cases and discomfort during usage was assessed in 59%. The cleaning of CL was done at the moment of insertion and removal in 87.18% of cases, and 71.8% used contact solution. High purchase cost was the main reason for not using CL for 70% of patients who did not use this resource. Conclusions: Of the patients interviewed, 56.52 % started using LC. Keratoconus was the main disease for which CL were indicated. It was demonstrated in this study that patients in question have good guidance on handling and maintenance of LC. Despite the unquestionable advances in medical technology continue to occur the abandonment of the use of this feature mainly the cost and fear of handling. It is the responsibility of the expert clarify the benefits that patients with medical indication will have with the use of LC, as well as encourage their use.

Contact Lens Wearer Demographics and Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections--United States, 2014.

Contact lenses provide safe and effective vision correction for many Americans. However, contact lens wearers risk infection if they fail to wear, clean, disinfect, and store their contact lenses as directed. Over the past decade, CDC has investigated several multistate outbreaks of serious eye infections among contact lens wearers, including Acanthamoeba keratitis. Each investigation identified frequent contact lens hygiene-related risk behaviors among patients. To guide prevention efforts, a population-based survey was used to estimate the number of contact lens wearers aged ≥18 years in the United States. A separate online survey of contact lens wearers assessed the prevalence of contact lens hygiene-related risk behaviors. Approximately 99% of wearers reported at least one contact lens hygiene risk behavior. Nearly one third of contact lens wearers reported having experienced a previous contact lens-related red or painful eye requiring a doctor's visit. An estimated 40.9 million U.S. adults wear contact lenses, and many could be at risk for serious eye infections because of poor contact lens wear and care behaviors. These findings have informed the creation of targeted prevention messages aimed at contact lens wearers such as keeping all water away from contact lenses, discarding used disinfecting solution from the case and cleaning with fresh solution each day, and replacing their contact lens case every 3 months.

[Quality of life in patients wearing scleral lenses]. / Qualité de vie des patients équipés en verres scléraux.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of scleral lenses in terms of improving the quality of life in the treatment of astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty or in keratoconus. METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study, evaluating quality of life (QOL) of patients who failed to adapt to RPG lenses, fitted with SPOT(®) scleral lenses between October 2007 and March 2011 in the University Hospital of Besançon Department of Ophthalmology. QOL was assessed before and after scleral lens adaptation with the French version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ 25). RESULTS: We included 47 patients (83 eyes) fitted with scleral lenses on one or both eyes: 56 eyes with keratoconus and 27 post-keratoplasty eyes. The average duration of wearing scleral lenses was 18±10months and the average wearing time was 14±3hours per day. The rate of participation in the survey was 86.5% (41 patients). Visual acuity in the better eye progressed from 0.68±0.46 to 0.15±0.17 logMAR at the 6th month after scleral lens adaptation (P<0.0001). The average scores on the NEI-VFQ 25 questionnaire of patients fitted with scleral lenses for at least 6 months were significantly higher than those without scleral lenses, with a global score of 80.2/100 with, versus 48.1/100 without, scleral lenses (P<0.0001). The global score increased by an average of 32.1±4.6 points (-28, 82) (P<0.0001). Statistical analysis found no significant difference in global score between patients in the keratoconus and keratoplasty groups (P>0.05). Scleral lenses showed a significant improvement in quality of life for patients who had failed or are intolerant to conventional rigid gas permeable contact lenses. In our two main optical indications, keratoconus and keratoplasty, they represent an alternative or a step prior to surgery.

How contact lens comfort may be influenced by psychiatric and psychological conditions and mechanisms.

End-of-day soft contact lens awareness, dryness and discomfort are common related problems and may be associated with lens surface dryness and soiling as well as signs of ocular discomfort. Similar symptoms may be reported by patients who do not have obviously degraded lenses or ocular signs of discomfort. This review examines some psychiatric and psychological conditions and mechanisms which may predispose toward or enhance the likelihood of these symptoms occurring and becoming a problem. For example, conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress may lower the threshold for the perception of discomfort. Chronic ocular inflammation associated with contact lens wear may result in neuroplastic lowering of nociceptive thresholds and enhancement of the perception of discomfort. End-of-day tiredness and reduced levels of demand from top-down activity may make it harder to maintain goal-relevant attention and the associated ability to inhibit sensory stimuli (such as lens awareness) that would otherwise not capture attention. Lens surface lubricity experienced on lens insertion may be higher than normal for corneal or conjunctival surfaces and create expectations of very high comfort levels, which are not apparent after lens surface dehydration, soiling or other lens changes have accumulated during the day. Psychiatric and psychological conditions and mechanisms may not only contribute to the perception of discomfort, when the lens and ocular condition appear normal but also may contribute to the perception of discomfort, when lens surface drying and soiling are evident and/or discomfort such as chronic ocular inflammation is apparent.

Myopia, contact lens use and self-esteem.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether contact lens (CL) use was associated with self-esteem in myopic children originally enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET), that after 5 years continued as an observational study of myopia progression with CL use permitted. METHODS: Usable data at the 6-year visit, one year after CL use was allowed (n = 423/469, age 12-17 years), included questions on CL use, refractive error measurements and self-reported self-esteem in several areas (scholastic/athletic competence, physical appearance, social acceptance, behavioural conduct and global self-worth). Self-esteem, scored from 1 (low) to 4 (high), was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children in participants under 14 years or the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, in those 14 years and older. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between self-esteem and relevant factors identified by univariate analyses (e.g., CL use, gender, ethnicity), while adjusting for baseline self-esteem prior to CL use. RESULTS: Mean (±S.D.) self-esteem scores at the 6-year visit (mean age = 15.3 ± 1.3 years; mean refractive error = -4.6 ± 1.5 D) ranged from 2.74 (± 0.76) on athletic competence to 3.33 (± 0.53) on global self-worth. CL wearers (n = 224) compared to eyeglass wearers (n = 199) were more likely to be female (p < 0.0001). Those who chose to wear CLs had higher social acceptance, athletic competence and behavioural conduct scores (p < 0.05) at baseline compared to eyeglass users. CL users continued to report higher social acceptance scores at the 6-year visit (p = 0.03), after adjusting for baseline scores and other covariates. Ethnicity was also independently associated with social acceptance in the multivariable analyses (p = 0.011); African-Americans had higher scores than Asians, Whites and Hispanics. Age and refractive error were not associated with self-esteem or CL use. CONCLUSIONS: COMET participants who chose to wear CLs after 5 years of eyeglass use had higher self-esteem compared to those who remained in glasses both preceding and following CL use. This suggests that self-esteem may influence the decision to wear CLs and that CLs in turn are associated with higher self-esteem in individuals most likely to wear them.

Parenting stress in the infant aphakia treatment study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate parenting stress following infants' cataract extraction surgery, and to determine if levels of stress differ between 2 treatments for unilateral congenital cataract in a randomized clinical trial. METHODS: At surgery, an intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted or children were left aphakic, treated with contact lens (CL). Stress measures were administered 3 months after surgery and at the first visit after the visual acuity (VA) assessment done at 12 months of age. RESULTS: Caregivers in the IOL group reported higher levels of stress than those in the CL group 3 months after surgery, but there were no group differences in stress scores at the post-VA assessment. Stress scores did not change differentially for participants assigned to IOL versus CL treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment assignment did not have a significant impact on caregiver stress during infancy or on the change in stress during the child's first 2 years of life.

Compliance with lens replacement and the interval between eye examinations.

PURPOSE: Eye care practitioners (ECPs) acknowledge that their patients do not always follow recommendations for lens replacement, but many may not realize the possible implications for their offices. The study was conducted to investigate whether there is a relationship between contact lens compliance and the interval between full eye examinations (IEE). METHODS: The study was conducted in ECP offices in the United States. Eye care practitioners and patients independently completed linked questionnaires, evaluating their contact lens wear and care. Patients were required to be current wearers of daily disposable (DD) lenses or reusable silicone hydrogel lenses with a manufacturer-recommended replacement frequency (MRRF) of 2 weeks (2WR) or 1 month (1MR). RESULTS: A total of 2147 questionnaires from 141 offices were eligible. Fifty-four percent of patients were wearing 2WR, 37% 1MR, and 9% DD lenses. Wearers of 2WR lenses were significantly less compliant with replacement than wearers of both DD and 1MR lenses (34% vs. 74% and 67%, both p < 0.001); patients purchasing an annual supply were more compliant (55% vs. 45%, p < 0.001). The mean IEE was 16 months and was longer for wearers who were noncompliant with the MRRF (17.4 months vs. 14.5 months, p < 0.001). Other factors affecting IEE were household income (p = 0.030), insurance (p < 0.001), purchase source (p < 0.001), and sex (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were not compliant with the MRRF had longer IEEs and were less likely to purchase an annual supply of lenses. Patients who purchased lenses from their ECP, had a higher household income, had eye examination insurance, and were female had shorter IEEs. Patients failing to replace their lenses when scheduled were also found to be less compliant with lens care procedures. Eye care practitioners should reinforce the importance of all aspects of lens wear and care with their patients, with the overall aim of reducing possible complications and retaining successful contact lens wearers in their offices.

The impact of contemporary contact lenses on contact lens discontinuation.

OBJECTIVES: Discontinuation or "dropout" from contact lens (CL) wear continues to afflict the CL industry. This study was conducted to determine whether the advent of new CL materials and designs has impacted the dropout rate and the reasons for discontinuation. METHODS: Current and lapsed CL wearers residing in Canada were recruited using Facebook to take part in an on line survey investigating CL wearing experiences during 2008 to 2010 and to establish the percentage of participants who temporarily and permanently discontinued CL wear during the period surveyed. RESULTS: Four thousand two hundred seven eligible surveys were received (64% female; median age 27 years). Forty percent had lapsed from lens wear for at least 4 months; however, 62% of the lapsed wearers (LWs) resumed wear. There were no differences between LWs and nonlapsed wearers (NLWs) with respect to gender; however, LWs were older, started lens wear when older, and had not worn lenses for as long as NLWs (all P<0.001). More NLWs than LWs wore silicone hydrogel CLs (49% vs. 38%, P<0.001) and more LWs than NLWs wore daily disposable lenses and hydrogel CLs (24% vs. 19% and 22% vs. 18%, respectively, P≤0.001). Primary reasons for discontinuation were discomfort (24%), dryness (20%), red eyes (7%), and expense (7%). Compliance with lens replacement was no different between LWs and NLWs (48% vs. 45%). CONCLUSIONS: About 23% of those surveyed had discontinued CL wear permanently. The primary reasons for dropping out continue to be discomfort and dryness. Dropout rates were lower in silicone hydrogel wearers.

Improving patient education and attitudes toward compliance with instructions for contact lens use.

AIMS: To examine reasons for non-compliance with recommended methods of successful contact lens wear and care, and to use that analysis to improve instruction as well as to apply the principles of social influence and other methods of behaviour modification to improve patient understanding of and attitudes toward compliance. METHODS: A review of studies of non-compliance and an analysis of educational methods, content and sequencing. RESULTS: The high prevalence of intentional and unintentional non-compliance confirms the need for improved methods of education and attitudes toward compliance. Education may be unsuccessful because of auditory processing disorders and reading disability syndromes. Methods which appear likely to contribute to improved compliance include: keeping records of the progress made through a comprehensive syllabus, commencing education at the prescribing visit, postponing non-urgent components to aftercare visits, compensating for patient shortcomings in the areas of understanding verbal instructions and reading support literature, and improving frequency and impact of communications with patients. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to improved instruction, there is an indication for using behaviour modification techniques, such as the principles of social influence, to achieve changes in patient attitudes toward compliance. For example, patient attitudes toward compliance may be improved by understanding why so many people continue to wear and benefit from the many advantages of contact lens corrections, as well as appreciating how too many patients become contact lens failures due to non-compliance. There is a strong indication for progressive monitoring of compliance but the methods used should avoid confrontation with and any offence to patients.

Improving contact lens compliance by explaining the benefits of compliant procedures.

AIM: To increase compliance with instructions for safe and successful contact lens wear by helping patients understand the advantages and consequences of compliant and non-compliant behavior respectively. METHODS: A series of explanations which elucidate the practical and scientific basis for many of the instructions given at lens delivery and aftercare have been prepared as a means of extending patient education beyond simply being instructed on what to do. DISCUSSION: The summary versions of these explanations have been prepared at an easier level of readability (age 10-12 years) to assist young patients and adults with reading disabilities, including those for whom English is their second language. CONCLUSIONS: Patients may be non-compliant because they do not understand the practical and/or scientific basis for procedures and the potential consequences of aberrant behavior. Delay in the onset of symptoms associated with non-compliance may allow them to assume that compliance is not important. Explanations which describe why instructions given for lens use are consistent with sustained comfortable and safe lens wear, appear to have the potential to strengthen or change patient attitudes toward being compliant. Behavior modification which reduces the prevalence of non-compliance appears likely to also help sustain better contact lens performance and reduce the prevalence of contact lens failure. These explanations could be modified for use in different practices according to the preferences of individual practitioners and to include new research findings as they become available.

Attitudes towards visual correction in sport: What coaches, physical education teachers and sports physicians think.

PURPOSE: To evaluate sport professionals' attitudes towards visual correction in sport. METHOD: A questionnaire was handed out in schools, gyms, sports centres and universities, to coaches, physical education teachers and final year students of motor science. The questionnaire was given to one group of sport physicians prior to a 1-day scientific update course on the benefits of contact lenses (CLs) in sport. At the end of the course, certain questions from the questionnaire were given out again in order to evaluate the effect of the update on their opinions. RESULTS: A total of 245 questionnaires were collected. The interviewees stated that correcting a vision defect during sports practice was important, but their propensity to suggest CLs for sport, though still rather high in value, showed a statistically significant drop. This drop did not occur if the CLs were recommended for competitive sports. This trend remained unchanged if a specific judgement was requested for the adolescent category. The tendency to suggest CLs was higher in CL wearers as compared to non-wearers. The sport with the lowest recommendation of CLs was swimming. In the sample of sports physicians, a specific education on the subject of CLs increased the propensity to adopt CLs in sports. CONCLUSIONS: The main "actors" in the sports sector regard correcting a vision defect during sport to be important. Nevertheless, their tendency to suggest CLs is significantly lower. Works that make these categories aware of the benefits of CLs in sport can certainly help to fill this gap.

A survey of UK practitioner attitudes to the fitting of rigid gas permeable lenses.

PURPOSE: Rigid gas permeable (GP) contact lenses may provide the safest option for lens wear, but prescribing rates are in decline. This study investigated the effect of practitioner attitudes on GP lens prescribing. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed using a focus group and a pilot study. Questions addressed clinical time spent fitting GP lenses, specialist equipment requirements and perceived safety and comfort. With ethical approval, the questionnaire was sent to 1000 randomly selected UK registered eye care practitioners (ECPs). RESULTS: In general, ECPs enjoy the challenge of fitting GPs, although fitting takes longer than soft lens fitting. There is a difference in attitude between longer qualified and more recently qualified ECPs. Longer qualified ECPs more frequently reported enjoyment of the fitting challenges, recommended GP lenses to patients and were less likely to believe that GP lenses were becoming obsolete. ECPs are in strong agreement on the ocular health advantages of fitting GPs. They do not feel specialist equipment is generally needed, although some reported a topographer to be advantageous. The large majority of ECPs do not have access to the specialist equipment they perceive to be normally associated with GP fitting (radiuscope, V-gauge). They believe that initial fitting discomfort of GP fitting is a major drawback to their fitting, and while they feel this greatly improves with adaptation, they do not feel it reaches soft lens wear comfort. A total of 30.3% of ECPs feel it is clinically acceptable to use topical anaesthetic during GP fitting, but only 1.4% of ECPs regularly do so. CONCLUSIONS: ECPs are aware of the benefits that GP lenses provide in terms of ocular health. They find GPs take longer to fit, but they enjoyed the challenge of fitting, which suggests that they are not lacking in clinical skill, nor any specialist equipment. However, they are unhappy with initial patient comfort, and are not yet prepared to use topical anaesthetics during initial fitting. As a consequence, ECPs believe that GP lenses are becoming obsolete. Negative practitioner attitudes toward various aspects of GP fitting may mean fewer recommendations to patients and reduced GP prescribing.

Valuing condition-specific health states using simulation contact lenses.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports on a study that used contact lenses to simulate the effects of a visual impairment caused by age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The primary objective was to examine the feasibility of using this method of simulation. A secondary objective was to compare the results from this experiment with those obtained from ARMD patients (n = 209) using generic preference-based measures (Health Utilities Index 3 (HUI3) and EUROQOL 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and patient time trade-off (TTO). METHODS: Utility values were elicited from healthy participants (n = 108) for three ARMD states simulated using contact lenses. RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between visual acuity and TTO values elicited from our sample population (n = 108). It was stronger than that found for HUI3, EQ-5D, and own TTO values from patients (n = 209). Our sample values informed by the experience of simulation were found to be significantly different from values from patient TTO and generic preference-based measures obtained from patients for the same level of visual impairment. Sociodemographic characteristics did not significantly affect results, although baseline TTO utility values were positively associated with TTO values for simulated states. Nevertheless, the patient population was significantly older than the sample population. CONCLUSIONS: ARMD has a major impact on our sample values TTO health state values. Differences across four visual health severity groups appear larger than those found for a generic preference-based measure and patient TTO values. For conditions that are difficult to describe and imagine, simulation methods may offer an additional tool when combined with usual methods of description for obtaining better informed general population preferences.