title: Twenty first century trends in silicone hydrogel contact lens fitting: an international perspective.
abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses were introduced into the market in 1999. To assess prescribing trends of this lens type since then, up to 1000 survey forms were sent to contact lens fitters in Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA each year between 2000 and 2008. Practitioners were asked to record data relating to the first 10 contact lens fits or refits performed after receiving the survey form. Analysis of returned forms revealed a rapid increase in the prescribing of silicone hydrogel lenses over the survey period. In 2008, silicone hydrogel lenses represented 36% of all soft lenses prescribed. The categorization of the majority of lenses prescribed as 'refits' is primarily attributed to the mass conversion of lens wearers from hydrogel to silicone hydrogel lenses. Silicone hydrogels may soon represent the majority of soft contact lenses prescribed.
authors.affiliation: Eurolens Research, The University of Manchester, Moffat Building, P.O. Box 88, Manchester M601QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.forename: Magne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helland
authors.forename: Motozumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Eef
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Worp
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003262:Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate