Compliance study of contact lens wearers in Japan - Part 2: Evaluation of a subscribed membership system

OBJECTIVE:: To examine the hypothesis that membership in a contact lens (CL) supply system is associated with better compliance for regular wearers (members) who belong to the subscription membership system. METHODS:: Subjects were 104 members and 100 nonmember wearers of 2-week frequent replacement silicone hydrogel CLs whose clinical information was retrospectively available for 1.5 to 2 years in the interval between September 2010 and August 2012. The average duration of use of a single lens was calculated from the number of lenses supplied during the observation period and surveyed using questionnaires. Subjective symptoms and eye complications were also documented and compared. RESULTS:: The average duration of use of a lens was significantly longer in nonmembers (17.8±5.6 days/lens; n=91) than in members (14.2±3.5 days/lens; n=98) (P<0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). The number of wearers who replaced their lenses within 15.4 days per lens wear was significantly higher in members (74.5%) as compared with nonmembers (45.1%) (P<0.001, Fisher exact test). Levels of compliance reported by wearers did not match with those indicated in clinical records. In recorded eye complications, the rate of incidence of allergic and giant papillary conjunctivitis tended to be higher in nonmembers as compared with members. CONCLUSIONS:: The hypothesis that a membership system could be associated with better compliance was found to be supported by clinical records. It is suggested that a membership system is useful for identifying wearers who want to be more compliant and that better compliance may reduce long-term complications of lens wear.