Twenty first century trends in silicone hydrogel contact lens fitting: an international perspective.
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.
Morgan
Philip B
PB
Eurolens Research, The University of Manchester, Moffat Building, P.O. Box 88, Manchester M601QD, United Kingdom.
Efron
Nathan
N
Helland
Magne
M
Itoi
Motozumi
M
Jones
Deborah
D
Nichols
Jason J
JJ
van der Worp
Eef
E
Woods
Craig A
CA
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
D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate