Daily disposable contact lenses provide a number of compelling benefits to both patients and practitioners when compared to reusable lenses. Fortunately, with the introduction of new technologies and expanded parameters for existing lenses, more patients can realize these benefits (Figure 1).^1-9 As we continue to enjoy what some might call the golden age of daily disposable contact lenses, let’s explore why and how we should prioritize their position in our prescribing arsenal.

WHY REACH FOR DAILY DISPOSABLES?

From safety to convenience, most eyecare professionals are aware of the benefits of daily disposable lenses; that said, most patients are not well-versed in this area. Thus, practitioners should consider every visit as an opportunity to educate contact lens patients about the advantages of this technology.

Health Benefits Even compliant contact lens wear poses some risks for complications. While proper disinfection and adherence to the prescribed wearing schedule reduce these risks for patients who wear reusable lenses, it is well established that daily disposable lenses are the safest contact lens modality.

A large case-control study reported that patients wearing daily disposable lenses experienced a 12-to-13-times reduced risk of corneal inflammatory events when compared with patients wearing reusable lenses.¹⁰ This may be a result of the improved compliance noted with daily disposable lens wear.⁶ Between occasionally sleeping while wearing lenses, neglecting to manually rub lenses, wearing lenses beyond their prescribed replacement schedule, or failing to replace lens cases, few wearers of reusable lenses can be considered fully compliant with safe lens-wearing practices. Daily disposable lens wear reduces or eliminates many of these variables, making it much easier for patients to maximize compliance.

Because of their reduced time on the eye, daily disposable lenses are also less likely to manifest signs of wear and tear, such as lipid and protein deposits. In addition to the health advantages of reduced lens deposits, patients may also experience improved long-term comfort. As discomfort continues to be a primary driver for contact lens discontinuation,¹¹ daily disposable lenses may enable more patients to wear their lenses longer. Moreover, evidence suggests that patients who are symptomatic while wearing reusable lenses often experience reduced or resolved symptoms after being refitted with daily disposable lenses.¹²

Cost and Convenience Considerations From television commercials to digital marketing and influencer testimonials, patients are bombarded with more contact lens-related advertising than ever before. Some of this advertising even encourages patients to skip eyecare professionals entirely under the guise of reduced cost or increased convenience. Thus, contact lens practitioners must keep cost and convenience front of mind when designing strategies to reach contact lens wearers and to ensure their satisfaction.

For most patients, the convenience of daily disposable lens wear is second to none. Eliminating the need to clean lenses, buy care solutions, and track dates for lens replacement means that patients spend less time thinking about their lenses. In addition, with the potential for fewer corneal inflammatory events, patients who wear daily disposable lenses are less likely to experience the inconvenience of having to temporarily discontinue lens wear.

While cost is often seen as a barrier to daily disposable lens wear, this is becoming less of an issue. As more daily disposable products enter the market, increased competition may correlate with an indirect financial benefit to patients. In addition to competitive pricing, manufacturers’ rebates often reduce the cost of an annual supply by $200 or more. Patients also realize savings by eliminating the need to buy care solutions and lens cases. These costs can be significant on a yearly basis for compliant reusable lens wearers.

For part-time lens wearers, a “cost-per-wear” model can be a useful tool. The authors of one such model estimate that most patients who wear contact lenses fewer than five days per week will save money by wearing daily disposables.¹³

New Innovations In the past, limited availability of hyperopic powers, oblique cylinder axes, and certain multifocal designs may have hampered widespread adoption of daily disposable lenses by some practitioners. With more materials, designs, and parameters available today, however, most patients can be fitted with daily disposable lenses.

New, recently released technologies and several in the pipeline make it an even more exciting time to be prescribing daily disposable lenses. With myopia management a hot topic in eye care, the availability of the first daily disposable lens indicated for reducing the progression of myopia in children is an important milestone in the United States. With the myopia epidemic on the rise and worldwide myopia prevalence expected to approach 50% by 2050 (Figures 2 and 3),¹⁴ proactive practitioners should strive to stay informed of new technology in this space.

Other technologies in development may expand the role of daily disposable contact lenses in practice. Medication-eluting lenses could provide immense benefits to patients who have ocular conditions ranging from allergic conjunctivitis to primary open-angle glaucoma. “Smart lenses” may be able to monitor blood sugar or potentially confer supra-physiological vision to wearers.^15-17

Practice-Level Benefits Another reason to reach for daily disposable lenses is the potential to benefit the practice, both directly and indirectly. For example, prioritizing the integration of new ophthalmic products and technologies underscores your position as a cutting-edge practice, creating excitement for existing patients and attracting new patients. Exceeding patients’ expectations is one of the best ways to encourage them to return to your office again.

Many practitioners find that patients who wear daily disposable lenses are more likely to return for their annual comprehensive examination at or around the one-year mark, whereas patients who wear reusable lenses may be several months late or may skip a year entirely. This phenomenon may be partly attributable to the increased compliance associated with daily disposable lenses, but it also may be a product of the increased value that patients place on eye care when they feel that their practitioner has something new to offer at every visit.

There are also staff efficiencies associated with prescribing daily disposable lenses. For example, new staff members may have trouble remembering the replacement schedules for specific reusable lenses or which lenses are available in six-, 12-, or 24-packs and how many lenses comprise an annual supply. This is inefficient and introduces the risk for errors in ordering. Because daily disposable lenses, regardless of manufacturer, have the same replacement schedule and are available in only 30- or 90-packs, the ordering process is far less confusing. In addition, perhaps because of substantial manufacturers’ rebates, patients who wear daily disposable lenses often prefer to order a year’s supply at the time of their annual examination, thus eliminating the need to call the practice at the six-month mark to reorder lenses.

HOW TO POSITION DAILY DISPOSABLES

While most practitioners acknowledge the benefits of daily disposable lenses, some struggle to incorporate these lenses into practice at scale. Here are some tips for getting patients on board with daily disposable lenses.

Start with Daily Disposables By far, the simplest way to increase the share of daily disposable lenses in your practice is to offer them first to new contact lens wearers. Sometimes, practitioners play a version of “20 questions” with new wearers, asking, “Would you like to sleep in your lenses?” “Would you like to change or enhance your eye color?” or “Would you like a monthly, biweekly, or daily disposable lens?” In reality, most patients are trusting their practitioners to prescribe lenses that will perform optimally for them.

I reach for daily disposable lenses whenever possible when initiating a new fit. An added benefit of this practice during the first week of lens wear is that if a patient drops, rips, or loses a lens while learning application and removal, he or she can simply discard that lens and open another one. My clinical experience has demonstrated that patients who wear daily disposables are among my most successful contact lens wearers.

Some practitioners consider daily disposable contact lenses to be premium technology and offer them only to patients who are intolerant of reusable lenses or who have a history of contact lens-related inflammation. Increased availability and competitive pricing make this an outdated mindset. A more strategic approach is to reserve reusable lenses for patients who have unique prescriptions or lifestyle factors that preclude daily disposable lens wear.

Embrace New Technologies A generation ago, few contact lens practitioners would have believed that there would be commercially available lenses to slow myopia progression or that darken in response to light. By the same token, few would have believed that we could confidently fit daily disposable lenses for a patient who has a prescription of, for example, +6.00 –2.25 x 160. As new contact lens technologies continue to enter onto the scene, practitioners must stay informed of new developments and incorporate them into practice when appropriate.

The first step toward embracing new technologies is to have well-stocked fitting sets. While ordering soft lenses empirically is not difficult, fitting or refitting patients into daily disposables is much more efficient when you have lenses available in your office. Space is often a consideration, however, and many practices must face the reality that having fitting sets for every available lens, particularly daily disposable toric lenses, is not feasible. A strategic approach is to have one or two fitting sets of your go-to daily disposables in spherical, toric, and multifocal designs. Choose lenses that have performed well and are affordable for a majority of your patients. In addition to your go-to lenses, consider having a premium fitting set available in each design to offer patients an alternative if the initial lens selection is not acceptable. This two-tiered approach enables you to fit most patients successfully. Patients who require a premium daily disposable lens will be able to experience the benefits and understand the value.

Compete on Service Research by American Express found that three out of four U.S. consumers will spend more money at a business that has provided a positive customer service experience in the past.¹⁸ This has far-reaching implications for eyecare practices, as it underscores how critical it is for staff members to prioritize service when interacting with patients.

There are several ways to compete on service when prescribing daily disposable lenses. In our practice, we emphasize the following benefits of purchasing contact lenses through our office:

• Free ship-to-home for orders
• Free replacement of torn or defective lenses
• Exchanges of unopened boxes
• Assistance with rebate processing
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Implement Competitive Pricing Another aspect of successfully positioning daily disposable lenses on the front line of your practice is the follow-through. While staying up to date with rebate requirements, vision plan policies, and pricing by competitors can be difficult and sometimes frustrating, your practice should evaluate these critical factors regularly. Consider designating a staff member to review these matters quarterly, and use this information to develop and modify your own pricing structure to be competitive.

Today’s consumers are value-conscious, so your practice must be a well-oiled machine when it comes to the checkout process. The person responsible for checkout should be well-versed in pricing, vision plan benefits, rebates, and shipping policies; this facilitates the smoothest ordering process possible for patients. From a patient’s perspective, uncertainty or hesitation in any of these areas could be a reason to decline to order lenses from your practice and to instead evaluate options from other sources. Some offices offer price-matching for patients who prefer to order their lenses online. If you choose to do this, keep your own costs in mind to maintain your profitability.

CONCLUSION

With all of the advantages associated with prescribing daily disposable lenses, it’s difficult to find any significant downsides to making them your first choice for most contact lens wearers. The health benefits, the convenience, and the availability of a wide range of parameters make them a winning recommendation. Your patients will thank you. CLS

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