Effects of a contact lens subscriber replacement program on patient lens care behavior in Japan

Purpose: Compliance with practitioner recommended lens care guidelines was assessed and compared in two test groups: patients belonging to a subscription membership group and a nonaffiliated group of 2-week frequent replacement (2WFR) soft contact lens wearers. Methods: Wearers (143 members and 149 nonmembers), whose clinical records were available for 18-24 months from September 2010 to August 2012, were queried by a written questionnaire: (1) source of lens purchase; (2) "rub" or "no-rub" care solution; (3) replacement interval of lens care products; (4) lens cleaning method; (5) noncompliant behaviors; and (6) replacement frequency of lens storage cases. Results: The questionnaires were completed by 104 members and 100 nonmembers. Of member group wearers, 63.0% correctly recognized the types of lens care products used ("rub', "no-rub") vs. 77.4% of nonmembers. Of member wearers, 82.2% used "rub" and rubbed each time vs. 76.3% of nonmembers. The replacement interval for care products was 26.2% (members) and 27.6% (nonmembers) for 1 month or less, while replacement frequency of storage cases was 22.3% and 19.2% for 1 month or less in each group respectively. There were no significant differences observed between each of these group comparisons (p> 0.05, Fisher exact test). Conclusions: Compliance with practitioner recommended lens care regimens was equally poor in both test groups. Subscription membership of CLs which does not provide lens care products is not accompanied by an increase in compliance with lens care practices.