Poster display 2: TRENDS IN SWEDISH CONTACT LENS PRESCRIBING 2017

Presenter: Oskar Johansson

Authors: OSKAR JOHANSSON¹ , PHILP MORGAN² , PETER GIEROW¹

Affiliation:1) Linnaeus University 2) University of Manchester

Key words: Contact lens, fitting, lens type

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the trends of contact lens prescribing among Swedish optometrists in 2017.

Methods: A standardized survey form developed by Morgan er al. was distributed to Swedish optometrists usingtheir professional organizations, optometry chains, direct email, and by hand directly. They were asked to fill out theform for the next ten contact lens patients after receiving the survey. Information was collected regarding the dayof fitting, age, sex, lens material, design, frequency of replacement, wear frequency, modality and type of caresystem. A weighting system is employed to account for the volume of activity undertaken by the respondents,calculated by the time period required to achieve 10 fits. All the forms and data were analyzed at the University of Manchester.

Results: 57 forms were returned, including 562 fits. The mean age of the patients was 37 yrs, and 65 % were female.83 % were fitted for full-time wear and 27 % were managed as new fits. Soft contact lenses is the most fitted modalityand represents 97.8 % of all new fits and 93.6 % of all refits. Rigid contact lens fits represents therefore in grand total5.3 % with 2.2 % of the new fits and 6.4 % of the refits. About two-thirds of soft lenses prescribed were siliconehydrogels. Of the different designs, spherical lenses were most widely fitted, with toric lenses on at least one eyecoming right after. Extended wear accounts for 10.6 % of the fittings. Multi-purpose solutions were the most popularregimen prescribed at 99.4 %.

Conclusions: When compared with data from Norway and Denmark, it is evident that daily disposables are morepopular in these countries (74 %), whereas in Sweden it is monthly replacements (58 %). Otherwise, the results aresimilar to what has been reported from other parts of the world.

Background: The purpose was to evaluate the trends of contact lens prescribing among Swedish optometrists in 2017.

Materials and Methods: A standardized survey form was distributed to Swedish optometrists using their professional organisations, optometry chains, direct email, and by hand directly. They were asked to fill out the form for the ten contact lens fits performed after receipt of the survey form. Information was collected regarding age and sex of patient, fit/refit, lens design and material, modality and solution prescribed.

Results: 57 forms were returned detailing 562 fits. The mean age of the patients was 37 yrs, and 65 % were female. 83 % were fitted for full-time wear and 27 % were managed as new fits. 94.7 % were soft contact lens fits and silicone hydrogel was the dominating material.

Conclusions: When compared with data from Norway and Denmark, it is evident that daily disposables are more popular in these countries (74 %), whereas in Sweden it is monthly replacements (58 %). Otherwise, the results are similar to what has been reported from other parts of the world.