The Daily Struggle

Background: Contact lenses have been a large market in the profession of Optometry, and
with all of this attention, innovations to contact lenses are a constant process. With an
increasing market and production for daily lenses, it becomes a challenge to the
practitioner with the decision to change the modality of a patients contact lens based on
affordability, convenience, and overall patient happiness. This research project evaluated
the effect on a practice when changing the options from monthly (lM), biweekly (2W),
and daily disposable (DD) lenses to a practice that only fits DD lenses. It explored how
the change in modality affected the patient base, and it then used this data to project a
change in revenue for the practice. Methods: An infographic was used to educate non-DD
lens patients on the specifications of DD lens wear, including: comfort, convenience,
cost, and health benefits. Following the infographic, patients then took a fourteenquestion
survey to evaluate their perception of DD lens wear and ultimately if they would
change to a DD lens, stop wearing lenses due to discontinuation of other modalities in the
practice, or stay with the practice but get contact lenses elsewhere. From this survey,
revenue was projected using a financial analysis of the change in cost of goods and
doctor compensation. Results: Via analysis and future projections a change in modality of
a practice to only DD lenses decreased the overall contact lens patient base, while
increasing the practice's revenue. Conclusion: Changing a practice to an DD only contact
lens modality increased the practice' s overall contact lens revenue as well as provided the patient base with a more convenient, healthier lens option.