Page 30 - The Indian Digital Edition September-October 2020

AOA CAUTIONS AGAINST lens usage, care and consumer

UNLAWFUL CONTACT LENS SALES expectations and was conducted by
Market Vision with 1,511 adults from
DURING HALLOWEEN Australia, France, Germany, Italy,
and South Korea.

The American Optometric critical step, without an up-to- Results revealed that 90% of
Association (AOA) has rolled out date contact lens prescription contact lens wearers expect to
its annual “31 in 31” letter-writing to purchase your lenses, people return to their normal wearing
campaign that will run throughout run the very real risk of putting a schedule, with 70% of respondents
October, with the purpose of product on their eye that could suggesting they planned to do
scrutinising online retailers, brick- threaten their vision and overall so within the next two to three
and-mortar shops and other sellers ocular health.” months, or sooner.
who distribute contact lenses The AOA emphasises that Data also showed that the
without valid prescriptions.
contact lenses, even those that majority (94%) of contact lens
The campaign has successfully are only intended to change the wearers have remained loyal to
identified over 150 retailers — with appearance of the eye, require their current brand, though many
support from doctors of optometry an eye doctor’s prescription respondents also expressed an
nationwide— that the AOA has and oversight to purchase. interest in enhancements or new
contacted to inform of the U.S. This requirement is outlined by technologies. Approximately 75%
law regarding the sale of contact the Fairness to Contact Lens of those surveyed were open to
lenses. The letters are copied to Consumers Act and the Contact discussing upgrading and more
the FDA and the Federal Trade Lens Rule. than 70% of wearers were willing to
Commission for appropriate pay more for an “innovative” lens.
intervention as necessary as However, some vendors
the AOA is not a regulatory “not only peddle counterfeit or Antoine Delgrange, vice-
enforcement agency. knock-off lenses unsuitable for president, Vision Care International
healthy wear but also lenses Marketing Group at Alcon, said: “As
“Decorative contact lenses are a that may contain harmful
popular accessory come Halloween contaminants,” states the AOA. ECPs reopen their practices, they
that many people mistakenly can be confident that contact lenses
assume are not only one-size-fits “As doctors of optometry, we provide an excellent opportunity to
all but also can safely be ordered know all too well the consequences build loyalty and trust with existing
online or simply purchased from of improper contact lens wear patients, bring new patients to the
a costume store,” said Jason and care,” Compton said. “When clinic and create resiliency within
Compton, OD, AOA Contact Lens we encounter these instances, their business.”
and Cornea Section chair. “That’s especially when there’s a contact The participants were receptive
absolutely not the case — all lens vendor that’s sidestepping
contact lenses, whether corrective health and safety laws, it’s to ordering lenses through their
or decorative, are medical devices important that doctors report their local practice, as well as receiving
that require the fit and prescription findings so appropriate actions can information and tips from a practice
of an eye doctor. Without this be taken to protect our patients.” website, email, virtual newsletters,
apps or text messages.
ALCON SURVEY ON CONTACT Furthermore, Alcon also
LENS BUSINESS found that contact lens hygiene
has improved over the last few
months. Nearly 80% of those
A new survey conducted by care professionals (ECPs) to build surveyed have improved their
Alcon, to determine the impact of patient loyalty and discuss new contact lens hygiene habits during
COVID-19 on contact lens wear, innovations. COVID-19 and are now washing
shows the “resiliency” of the their hands before inserting and
contact lens segment in addition to The survey aimed to measure removing contacts, as well as
pointing out opportunities for eye the impact of COVID-19 on contact changing their lenses as directed.

| SEPT-OCT 2020 | 26 CONTACT LENS NEWS

11/03/2020 12:33
Sept-Oct 2020 SK News.indd 2
Sept-Oct 2020 SK News.indd 2 11/03/2020 12:33