title: Is purchasing lenses from the prescriber associated with better habits among soft contact lens wearers?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the habits of United States (US) soft contact lens (SCL) wearers who bought SCLs from their eye care practitioner (ECP), on the internet/telephone, or at retail (not where they were examined) to test the effect of proximity to the prescriber on SCL wear and care practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult SCL wearers completed an adapted Contact Lens Risk Survey (CLRS) online that queried items related to risk factors for SCL-related complications. Responses from subjects who purchased at the ECP, via the internet/telephone, or at a retail store were compared (Chi-Square).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Purchase sources were: ECP 646 (67%, 44±12 yrs, 17% male), Retail 104 (11%, 45±13 yrs, 28% male), and Internet/telephone 218 (23%, 45±12 yrs, 18% male); age (p=0.51), gender (p=0.021). Internet purchasers had fewer annual eye exams (79% ECP, 83% retail, 66% internet/telephone, p=0.007), purchased more hydrogel SCLs (34% ECP, 29% retail, 45% internet/telephone, p=0.0034), and paid for SCLs with insurance less often (39% ECP, 29% retail, 19% internet/telephone, p<0.0001). Other behaviors were similar across groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this sample, the purchase location of SCL wearers had limited impact on known risk factors for SCL-related complications. Internet purchasers reported less frequent eye exams and were more likely to be wearing hydrogel SCLs. Closer access to the ECP through in-office SCL purchase did not improve SCL habits or reduce the prevalence of risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trial Consultant, 2097 East Lake Rd., Atlanta, GA 30307, United States. Electronic address: Chalmers2097@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR, United States.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorbara
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: G Lynn
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Marshall B. Ketchum University Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richdale
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000191:economics; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072162:Optometrists / Q000191:economics*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000191:economics*; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions
keywords: Contact lens compliance; Internet purchase