Addressing common myths and misconceptions in soft contact lens practice

ABSTRACT

Advances in contact lens technology over the past 50 years since the commercialisation of the first soft lenses in 1971 have been incredible, with significant changes in contact lens materials, frequency of replacement, care systems and lens designs occurring. However, despite the widespread availability of contact lenses, penetration rates for those who need vision correction remain in the low single digits and many practitioners seem to hold on to concepts around the potential value of contact lenses that appear based in the dim and distant past and are certainly no longer valid today. This review addresses 10 common ‘myths and misconceptions’ around soft contact lenses using an evidence-based approach that can hopefully dispel some of these incorrect assumptions.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical practice
• misconceptions
• myths
• soft contact lenses

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Karen Walsh: Over the past 3 years Karen Walsh has received honoraria from Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision; Lyndon Jones: Over the past 3 years Dr Jones’ research group (CORE) or he personally has received research support or lectureship honoraria from Alcon, Allergan, CooperVision, GL Chemtec, iMed Pharma, J&J Vision, Lubris, Menicon, Nature’s Way, Novartis, Ote, PS Therapy, Safilens, Santen, Shire, SightGlass and Visioneering. Dr Jones is also a consultant and/or serves on an advisory board for Alcon, CooperVision, J&J Vision, Novartis and Ophtecs; Kurt Moody: Dr Moody is the Director of Professional Education North America at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. This manuscript was supported through an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson Vision to the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo.