March 17, 2023 — According to the Contact Lens Institute (CLI), new research shows a significant number of vision-corrected U.S. adults are interested in purchasing both contact lenses and glasses—an untapped dual-wear opportunity for the eyecare industry.
 
CLI surveyed more than 2,000 Americans, and while only 23.6% reported using both contact lenses and glasses, almost 18% of glasses-only wearers are very interested in contact lenses—the same percentage of contact lens-only wearers interested in glasses. Among glasses wearers, 75% reported that contact lenses were not discussed at their most recent appointment. Of contact lens wearers, 45% said that glasses were not discussed during their most recent exam, and when that did occur, more than half of the conversations were about backup options.

The results of the survey represent an unrealized prescribing opportunity for more than one-third of all patients, and CLI says the underutilized approach is simply having the conversation. Helping patients identify situational wear can increase the number of patients who embrace both contact lenses and glasses, including both in- and out-of-home vision correction.

Among already existing dual wearers, contact lenses are preferred for outside of the home and glasses are strongly preferred for working at home. Eighty-one percent of dual wearers say they are likely to choose contact lenses for fitness/sports use and 33% of dual wearers report wearing their contacts over the past year for such activities.
 
“Our research also found that dual wearers overwhelmingly like the ability to choose their own path. Having both contact lenses and glasses on hand empowers them to make the best choices for themselves each day,” says Michele Andrews, O.D., CLI chairperson. “About 8 in 10 dual wear respondents agreed that having a choice is a powerful benefit, including feeling their best in different situations, accounting for how their eyes felt every day, choosing their own look, and having more control over their vision. Why not give them those opportunities?”

The findings were introduced on Friday, March 17, at Vision Expo East. Dr. Andrews was joined on the expert panel—comprised of 2023 CLI Visionaries—by Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC, of ASB Opticianry Education Services in Vancouver, WA; Inna Lazar, O.D., of Greenwich Eye Care in Old Greenwich, CT, and Pro Eye Care in Darien, CT; and Jennifer Tsai, O.D., of Line of Sight in New York City. Alysse Henkel, senior director of market research and analytics for The Vision Council, also joined the panel.
 
An extensive report will be published next month.
 
For EB’s Vision Expo East livestream with CLI, head here.
 
For more information: contactlensinstitute.org.