What the patient wore, and why …

This study set out to compare the wearing habits and attitudes of patients today with those, featured in a study by Cross, fitted prior to 1949. Information was sought in the present time regarding the age, occupation and sex of the wearers in 10 different categories of lens types currently available. The views of the patients were also sought regarding the comfort, distance vision, close vision, convenience and how the present lenses met their expectations. Motivation to wear contact lenses was also compared between the two studies. Results show a considerable change in the age of wearers both at the time of fitting and at the time of the studies, occupations of the wearers, and wearing modalities. Most of all it highlights the huge amount of choice available to the modern wearer, not only in lens types and materials, but also in the location and type of practice fitting lenses now at very much lower costs. Wearing times tend to have dropped since 1949 but through choice rather than necessity.