A Focus on Contacts

News of the death of contact lenses has been greatly exaggerated.

With refractive surgery coming on strong, contacts manufacturers are hurrying to improve their products.

“What contact lens manufacturers are realizing is people want convenience with their vision,” says Dr. Robert Maloney, a UCLA ophthalmologist.

“I think one of the most exciting products is the one-day disposables. But they cost 85 cents to $1 per lens. That is pretty expensive,” says Dr. Daniel Sigband of UC Irvine. “But disposables have been a major advance and one of several we’ll probably see.”

For example, contacts for people who wear bifocal lenses as well as contacts for astigmatism (an uneven curvature of the eye that prevents it from focusing clearly at any distance) are also attracting new customers, Sigband says.

“Traditionally, we’ve had a 15% to 20% dropout rate (people who try contacts but quickly give up on them). That market is being recaptured by refitting people with a variety of new products.”