Monthly replacement contact lens wearers notice a decline in lens performance in weeks three and four of wear, a survey reveals. Findings from the research among monthly lens wearers in France, in which 20 different brands of lenses were represented, show a decrease in wearing comfort over the course of a month, with no significant differences between wearers of hydrogel and silicone hydrogel monthly replacement lenses.
About seven in ten monthly silicone hydrogel (71 percent) and hydrogel (68 percent) wearers reported a decrease in wearing comfort as the month progressed. Asked which week of the month, in general, they start to notice that their lenses become more uncomfortable, 95 percent said they become aware of discomfort in weeks three and four. Monthly silicone hydrogel wearers who experienced discomfort tended to notice it earlier in the lens cycle than hydrogel wearers.
“Discomfort and, in particular, dryness-related discomfort is a prime reason that many contact lens wearers either reduce or discontinue wearing their contacts,” says Sheila Hickson-Curran, Director, Medical Affairs, VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. “This study suggests that contact lens wearers should talk to their eye care professional if they are noticing a decline in lens performance over time.”
Discomfort and other eye related problems could also occur for lens wearers who exceed the recommended wear and replacement schedule of a lens, according to Dr. Hickson-Curran.
Even though doctors and manufacturers provide instructions about caring for and wearing contact lenses, less than half of wearers (46 percent) always replace their contact lenses in accordance with their doctor’s recommended schedule, with younger wearers less likely to be compliant according to Americans’ Attitudes & Perceptions About Vision Care, a 2006 survey of 3,700 Americans conducted by Harris Interactive® on behalf of The Vision Care Institute™, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson Company.
“It is quite simple,” Hickson-Curran notes. “If you wear a daily disposable contact lens, put in a fresh new lens every day; a bi-weekly, once every two weeks, and a monthly, once a month. By not following instructions on proper wear and care, contact lens wearers are more likely to experience discomfort and may put themselves at greater risk for infection or other serious complications.”
To help contact lens wearers be compliant, VISTAKON® offers a complimentary online reminder service called ACUMINDER™. Available at acuminder, visitors can elect to receive an automatic reminder about changing or ordering new contact lenses via e-mail, cell phone text message, and/or a computer desktop prompt. A newly launched application for Facebook users (acuminder/facebook) expands its functionality into a multipurpose lifestyle tool that can also send out reminders for just about anything, such as taking daily medications, doctors’ visits, work deadlines, important social events and more.
ACUMINDER™ users self report that they are becoming more compliant thanks to the reminder service, which is open to all contact lens wearers. In its first year, more than 11,000 contact lens wearers signed up for ACUMINDER™. In a January 2008 survey, bi-weekly contact lens wearers reported a marked improvement in their contact lens behavior — the average number of days between lens changes decreased from 19 days to a near-perfect compliance of 15 days.
About the Research
An independent market research company conducted an online survey among consumers in France during October and November 2007. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., sponsored the survey although subjects were unaware of the sponsor’s identity. The sample was randomly selected from a consumer database of contact lens wearers designed to be representative of all existing brands in the French market. In total, 20 different brands of lenses were represented. The monthly replacement lens SUREVUE® Brand Contact lenses (not available in the United States) was the only Johnson & Johnson Vision Care product represented, since the company’s ACUVUE® Brand Contact lenses are recommended for daily, weekly, or bi-weekly replacement.
Data was analyzed for a total of 434 existing contact lens wearers who completed the survey. Of these, 271 were wearing monthly replacement hydrogel lenses and 163 wore monthly silicone hydrogel lenses. All wearers were aged from 18-40 years and were frequent contact lens users, wearing their lenses at least three days a week and either all day long or during the day. Lens wearing history (i.e., number of years’ wear) and care regime were not investigated in this survey.
ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately.
ACUVUE® , SUREVUE® ,ACUMINDER™, and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
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