Comparing 1993 to 1998 Contact Lens Prescribing Trends at a University Clinic -- by Latricia D. Pack, OD

Title

Comparing 1993 to 1998 Contact Lens Prescribing Trends at a University Clinic.

Author

Latricia D. Pack, OD

Purpose

The changes in contact lens prescribing habits in a teaching contact lens clinic is investigated.

Methods

All contact lenses ordered between January and December in 1993 and 1998 were categorized and tallied. Lenses ordered for each eye were counted separately in order to accurately reflect those patients who were a lens from different categories in each eye. The values were converted to percentage, first into two groups-rigid and soft. The hydrogel lenses were further divided into spherical, toric and multifocal, then whether they were disposable (replaced at least every two weeks), programmed replacement( 1-3 month frequency) or conventional.

Results

Soft contact lenses were utilized for 85.7% of orders in 1993 and 88.6% in 1998. A decline in spherical conventional hydrogel contact lenses was observed-39.7% in 1993 to 7.5% in 1998. Conventional toric and multifocal contact lenses showed a smaller reduction in usage. The total number of soft multifocal lenses remained stable but most (94%) were programmed replacement in 1998 compared to 28% in 1993. Although the total percentage of rigid lenses decreased more specialty lenses were fit in 1998 than in 1993.

Conclusions

Hydrogel lenses continue to dominate the number of lens orders. A dramatic move toward disposable and programmed replacement was observed. These trends are consistent with other reports of contact lens usage in eye care practices.