A 'cost-per-wear' model based on contact lens replacement frequency

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Health Economics

Background:

• Contact lens wear involves ongoing costs including professional fees, lenses, and solutions.
• Different replacement frequencies (daily, two-weekly, monthly) exist for spherical, toric, and multifocal contact lenses.
• Equitable cost comparison between different contact lens modalities is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-per-wear model for contact lenses.
• To provide an equitable basis for comparing the costs of various contact lens replacement frequencies.
• To advise on the practical application of this cost model for practitioners and patients.

Main Methods:

• Calculated annual costs for daily, two-weekly, and monthly replacement contact lenses in the Australian market.
• Included costs for professional fees, lenses, and solutions for spherical, toric, and multifocal prescriptions.
• Divided annual costs by the number of wear days per year to determine cost-per-wear, presented graphically against weekly wear frequency.

Main Results:

• Cost-per-wear for two-weekly and monthly spherical lenses is similar, decreasing with increased wear frequency.
• Daily wear spherical lenses have a lower cost-per-wear for 1-4 days/week use, but higher for 6-7 days/week use compared to reusable lenses.
• Cross-over points for equal cost-per-wear varied by lens type: 5 days/week for spherical, 3-4 days/week for toric, and 3-5 days/week for multifocal lenses.

Conclusions:

• The developed cost-per-wear model aids practitioners and patients in making informed decisions about contact lens costs.
• Cost-effectiveness depends on individual wear frequency and lens type (spherical, toric, multifocal).
• This model is a valuable consideration alongside other factors when selecting a contact lens replacement modality.