SPONSORED: Presby-what? New Surveys Reveal Patients and ODs Have Fuzzy Understanding of Presbyopia Correction Options
Recently, Alcon and Optometry Times (OT) polled 143 practicing ODs to determine how their patients perceive presbyopia and, to learn more about how the term is used in practice and the level of patient interest in multifocal contact lenses.
The poll is part of Alcon’s Project Presbyopia, an educational campaign launched during Presbyopia Awareness Month. The campaign aims to educate consumers about how to recognize signs and symptoms of presbyopia, and to motivate existing and emerging presbyopes to visit an OD to explore solutions including multifocal contact lenses.
In addition to this poll, Alcon conducted an independent survey of 501 presbyopes to better understand their:
• awareness of the condition;
• experience with vision changes as they age;
• use of accommodating behaviors;
• willingness to see a doctor for help, and;
• knowledge and use of vision correction devices like contact lenses as an alternative to reading glasses.
Below are findings from both surveys that might help you better understand gaps in patient knowledge and awareness of presbyopia; identify areas for education; and help make the case for offering and fitting multifocal contact lenses.
Almost all OD respondents (92 percent) in the OT poll agreed that most patients have no idea what the word “presbyopia” means, and very few respondents (<1%) see patients who use the clinical term by name. Some ECPs report they either avoid using the term presbyopia (39 percent) or use it along with other descriptive words when explaining the condition to patients (59 percent).1
When it comes to solutions for treating presbyopia, only 24 percent of consumers surveyed were familiar with multifocal contact lenses as an option.* However, once becoming aware of multifocal contact lenses, 59 percent of presbyopes surveyed said they are very likely or extremely likely to make an appointment with their doctor to discuss multifocal contact lenses.2† On the contrary, less than 2 percent of ODs said multifocal contact lenses were their preferred first-line recommendation for treating presbyopia – revealing an opportunity to increase recommendation of the lenses to presbyopic patients.1
ODs’ preferred first-line recommendation to patients with presbyopia is progressive glasses (64 percent) or reading glasses (34 percent), yet ODs say a majority of their presbyopic patients (65 percent) are disappointed to consider wearing reading glasses when learning they have presbyopia.1
Additionally, presbyopes surveyed agreed that wearing multifocal contact lenses would make them feel more confident (56 percent) and youthful (46 percent) and would be more convenient (53 percent).2 More presbyopes said they would prefer to wear multifocal contact lenses over reading glasses during social events and date night (68 percent) and while driving (66 percent).2
Given presbyopes’ positive perception of multifocal contact lenses and preference over reading glasses in some situations, ODs might want to consider starting more dynamic conversations with patients. To help, Alcon created resources at Alcon.com for your practice, including a 40th birthday card for a free‡ trial of DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses. Your patients can also visit SeeNearAndFar.com for more information about presbyopia and multifocal contact lenses.
This content was supported by Alcon.
References:
1. Survey of 143 ECPs on Presbyopia. Alcon data on file, 2019.
2. Survey of 501 Presbyopes. Alcon data on file, 2018.
*Based on the number of presbyopes who indicated that they were "familiar" with correction options for presbyopia on a 3-point agreement scale.
†Based on the number of presbyopes who indicated that they were "very likely" and "extremely likely" to make an appointment on a 5-point agreement scale.
‡Eye exam may be required before lens trial. Professional fees may apply. At participating offices
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