Nine out of 10 contact lens wearers break the cardinal rule
New research carried out on behalf of Bausch + Lomb’s Biotrue multi-purpose contact lens solution shows over 90 per cent of British contact lens wearers are pushing the limits of their contact lenses, regularly wearing them for longer than recommended – often throughout the night and beyond.
Findings show nearly 50 percent of contact lens wearers admit to regularly wearing their lenses for seven hours longer than the time recommended by their optometrist. A startling one in five lens wearers admit to having worn their lenses for a full 24 hours longer than advised.
The research looked at whether a person’s profession impacted their contact lens use. Of the 2,000 adults surveyed, 20 professions were identified, and the results showed that those working in Human Resources are most likely to wear their lenses for longer than they should. Almost one in five Human Resources workers admitted to having worn the same contact lenses for 49 hours over the recommended time. In contrast, the occupation least likely to over-wear their lenses is those in Travel, Leisure and Tourism, with nearly 30 per cent wearing them within the recommended time frame.
The survey also looked at whether age impacts on ‘wear time’, and findings have shown that all ages are equally guilty for over-wear. Surprisingly, the age group marginally less likely to adhere to the time prescribed is those aged 55 years and older, with almost 95 per cent admitting to wearing their lenses for longer than advised. However even 44-55 years olds, the age group seen as most likely to stick to such advice, are not much better with 90 percent of survey participants admitting to breaking the guidelines.
Brian Tompkins, BSc Hons FCOptom FBCLA, of Tompkins Knight and Son Optometrists said of the findings: “Wearing contact lenses for longer than the time recommended isn’t something optometrists or contact lens opticians encourage their patients to do. But realistically pushing the ‘wear time’ of lenses is something all wearers will probably experience at least once. A good example of when this happens is during the festive season, when people often stay up later for Christmas parties and New Year’s celebrations, often forgetting about their lenses completely.”
Common symptoms wearers reported experiencing when they had worn their lenses for too long include gritty and uncomfortable eyes (57%), itchy eyes (43%), blurred vision (31%), and blood shot eyes (19%). Those who encountered problems reported experiencing eye infections (23%), the contact lens sticking to the eye (35%cent), and injury to the eye (13%) as being the most common. Nearly half (47%) of contact lens wearers report they would be interested in a product that would make contact lenses more comfortable to wear for longer.
Brian Tompkins, BSc Hons FCOptom FBCLA, of Tompkins Knight and Son Optometrists continues: “You can help to get the most out of your lenses by using a modern multi-purpose solution that provides long-lasting moisture, however it is still important to only wear lenses for the recommended length of time. You are more likely to find your lenses comfortable and suffer fewer eye problems by doing as your optometrist recommends.”
Multi-purpose solutions are specifically designed in order to keep contact lenses clean and clear, ensuring your eyes stay as healthy and comfortable as possible. Biotrue multi-purpose solution has been developed following intensive studies on how the eye naturally works to clean, hydrate and keep itself healthy. Biotrue® helps keep lenses moist for up to 20 hours* and has exceptional disinfection properties . It is formulated to work like the eye with three bio-inspired innovations that are almost as remarkable as the eye itself:
matches the pH of healthy tears to help make putting in contact lenses more comfortable
includes a lubricant found naturally within the eyes
maintains healthy tear proteins to help keep lenses clean and clear
Biotrue multi-purpose solution is priced at a recommended retail of £13.45 for 300ml, or the Value Pack (2 x 300ml) for £23.95. Both are available from Boots and leading opticians across the UK.
For further information, and a full store locator list, log onto biotrue.co.uk.
