At least 60 percent of contact lenses prescribed in the United States are silicone hydrogel contacts or daily disposable contacts, according to a recent study conducted by the Centre for Contact Lens Research (Ontario, Canada).

The researchers surveyed 158 eye doctors regarding the types of contact lenses they prescribed for a total of 1,654 patients. The survey was part of a larger study designed to assess patient and eye care practitioner compliance with recommended replacement frequency of contact lenses.

The study found:

• Silicone hydrogel lenses were prescribed for 45 percent of patients and daily disposable contacts were prescribed for 16 percent.
• A very large majority of the contact lenses (92 percent) were prescribed for correction of myopia.
• Toric contact lenses for astigmatism were prescribed for 16 percent of patients and multifocal contacts were prescribed for 3 percent.

Also, 12 percent of patients reported wearing their lenses overnight as extended wear contacts. Even among patients wearing daily disposable lenses, 19 percent reported wearing their contacts overnight occasionally, frequently or almost every night.

Source: What contact lens materials are patients wearing? Contact Lens Spectrum. August 2009.

The new LensAlert Contact Lens Care Kit Value Wheel makes it easy to remember when your contact lenses and lens case need to be replaced.

With the LensAlert timer, you can set two separate countdowns for your contacts and case. The display flashes “0” when it’s time for a change. Seven, colorful lens cases are also included in the kit.

Following a replacement schedule is important to reduce your risk for eye infections. The replacement schedule for your contact lenses is specified by your eye doctor.

Typically cases should be replaced at least every three months, although some doctors recommend once a month. If used for too long, lens cases can become hotbeds for bacteria and fungi.

The kit can be purchased online or at optical stores and retail outlets.

Many U.S. contact lens wearers fail to replace their contact lenses according to the manufacturer-recommended replacement frequency (MRRF), according to a new study released by CIBA Vision.

The study evaluated the wearing habits of 1,654 contact lens wearers. Among those who wore silicone hydrogel lenses designed for two-week replacement, 59 percent wore their lenses longer than the MRRF. As a group, people who wore daily disposable contact lenses were more compliant with the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule. Only 15 percent of those wearing daily disposable contacts reported wearing them more than one day.

When contact lens wearers were asked why they were wearing their lenses longer than recommended, the two most frequent reasons were “forgetting which day to replace lenses” (51 percent) and “to save money” (26 percent).

The study was conducted by the Center for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry (Ontario, Canada), in collaboration with David B. Sarwer, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.