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Posters
February 2004
CLINICIAN PERCEPTIONS
OF 30-DAY CONTINOUS WEAR CONTACT LENSES
Colleen M. Riley, Neil Pence, William
Edmondson, Affiliation Indiana University, School of Optometry
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to evaluate student clinician and faculty
clinician attitudes concerning 30-day continuous wear contact lenses
and other vision correction options.
Method:
A 23 question survey was administered
to 3rd and 4th year student clinicians and faculty clinicians practicing
at the IU school of Optometry and 3rd year student clinicians at
NSU during the Spring of 2002. The questionnaires evaluated clinician
attitudes concerning 30-day continuous wear, 7-day extended wear,
modern ortho-k, refractive surgery, as well as more traditional contact
lens and spectacle treatments. Knowledge of vision correction options,
patient recommendations, opinions of health and safety and convenience
were also evaluated. The questionnairre was again administered to
a select group of 4th year clinicians at IU after clinical experience
with 30-day continuous wear lenses to determine if opinions and attitudes
are effected by minimal exposure.
Results:
Contact lens knowledge increased
as clinical experience increased. Ortho-k was ranked as the lowest
level of knowledge in all groups. 3rd and 4th year clinicians rated
LASIK and 7-day extended wear as having good and very good health
and safety when compared with 30 day continuous wear (p< 0.05).
A 4th year repeat survey after minimal clinical exposure to 30-day
continuous wear resulted in higher ratings for good health and safety
(p< 0.05). When evaluating convenience, ortho-k and glasses were
not ranked as convenient. When asked to rank vision correction options,
3rd and 4th year student clinicians as well as faculty clinicians
all chose daily wear contact lenses as their first choice. After
clinical experience with 30-day continuous wear lenses, the 4th years
chose almost equally daily wear contact lenses and 30-day continuous
wear lenses as a first option.
Conclusions:
A short clinical experience with a new product was shown to have
a positive effect on clinician perceptions and recommendations.
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