Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Having an ample supply of contact lenses on hand enhances the patient wearing experience
PHOENIX, Ariz. (October 25, 2012) – It is well documented that many contact lens wearers tend to “stretch” when it comes to adhering to practitioner prescribed replacement intervals. Now, new data suggests that patients who have an adequate supply of contact lenses on hand are significantly less likely to wear lenses beyond their intended replacement interval. The results were presented today at The American Academy of Optometry meeting.
About the Study
The research looked at various behaviors of contact lens patients in one United States and one Canadian study, and investigated the impact of the number of lenses on hand on actual replacement frequency and wearing experience. Five hundred eighty-seven wearers of 2-week contact lens brands and 217 users of monthly brands in the U.S., and 154 purchasers of a 2-week contact lens brand in Canada participated in the study. Over the 18-week study period, participants were surveyed weekly on when they replaced their lenses, how many lenses they had on hand, and for general perceptions of their wearing experience. Compliant replacement was defined as within 15 days for 2-week lenses and 31 days for monthly lenses.
At baseline, 51 percent of 2-week and 40 percent of monthly wearers in the U.S. study stated a tendency to stretch replacement schedules. During the study however, 84 percent of 2-week and 78 percent of monthly wearers actually stretched their prescribed replacement schedules. The difference between the actual lens modality numbers was not significant.
For all wearers combined, 28.7 percent of patients replaced their lenses on time when they had less than a six-month supply in reserve. When these patients had more than six-months of lenses in reserve, replacement compliance increased by one-third to 39.4 percent of patients replacing their lenses on time (p<0.05). On average, two-weekly wearers replaced their lenses every 3.3 weeks while monthly wearers replaced them at 5.6 weeks.
“This study demonstrates that supply plays an important role—and can be used as an important tool—in helping patients replace their contact lenses on time,” says study co-author Cristina Schnider, O.D., Senior Director, Professional Communications, VISTAKON®. “Encouraging the purchase of an annual supply, as well as providing instructions on proper contact lens wear and care at every patient visit, will improve compliance and, ultimately, optimize their wearing experience.”
In the Canadian study, users were provided either a 6-pack or 24-pack package option. Users of the 24-pack option were four times more likely to always replace their lenses on time compared to purchasers of the 6-pack. For infrequently compliant patients, the time to replace their contact lenses was one week shorter for 24-pack users (4.0 weeks for 6-pack users versus 3.1 weeks for 24-pack users).
THE “PANTRY LOAD” EFFECT/2
The Canadian study also found that 24-pack purchasers rate their contact lenses more positively than 6-pack purchasers. Seventy-nine percent of 24-pack users strongly agreed that they would recommend their current contact lens brand compared to 65 percent for 6-pack users.
“The study shows that patients who kept a greater supply of lenses were more likely to be enthusiastic about recommending their current lenses,” Dr. Schnider adds. “Enthusiastic patients lead to more referrals and a successful practice.”
Sources: Schnider, C, Jedraszczak, AM, “The ‘Pantry Load’ Effect – Can It Help Drive More Compliant Contact Lens Replacement,” Presented October 24, 2012 at American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting.
The study was sponsored by VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
VISTAKON® is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
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