Factors influencing the prescribing of hydrogel contact lenses

Abstract 

Despite the current market popularity of silicone hydrogel contact lenses, conventional hydrogel lenses still represent a significant proportion of the overall contact lens market. Data gathered from annual UK contact lens fitting surveys over the past 13 years indicate that 64% of hydrogel lenses prescribed during this period were of low/medium water content (≤60% water). Whereas, in the past, practitioners would choose the water content of a hydrogel lens to meet specific clinical needs, this choice appears today to be largely governed by product availability.

Keywords: Contact lens, Soft lens, Hydrogel, Water content, Prescribing, Fitting, Survey