December 13, 2008
Will You Stop Wearing Contact Lenses in a Recession?
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Ever since Leonardo da Vinci introduced the concept in 1508, the idea of improving your sight without degrading your appearance has caught on big time. In fact, as many as 125 million people globally wear contact lenses either full time or just on certain occasions.
With more than 100 million people wearing contact lenses worldwide, the contact lens market is enormous. What will happen now that we have entered a global recession?
Will people cut back on their use of contact lenses to save money?
We not only have had this discussion internally but actually polled some of our customers as well as other eye doctors in the industry. The general consensus to our poll question is a resounding - NO!
The top three reasons that were given range from comical to very pragmatic.
The first reason we were given was… “No matter how tough times get, I need to see!” We found this basic statement both funny and quite profound. In our internal conversations about the eye care industry which include industry analysis as well as consumer trend analysis on contact lens usage, we overlooked a very basic thing, that being – people wear contact lenses so that they can see better ! In countless medical studies as well as consumer behavior studies, contact lens wearers have reported a distinct preference to contact lenses vs. eyeglasses. The fact that contact lenses sit directly on the eye as opposed to having an appliance that sits (and often slides) on the bridge of the nose make for a higher satisfaction rating as well as an overall more natural field of vision.
The second most popular reason we were given was that…. “wearing contact lenses help me feel better about my appearance”. In good times as well as bad people want to feel good about themselves. We may cut back on how often we do it but going to the hair salon, getting nails done, sporting a new outfit, losing a few pounds are things that really help people feel good about themselves. Wearing contact lenses has always been, not only about seeking a more comfortable option to eyeglasses, but also one that helps restore a more natural appearance.
The third most popular reason we were given was… “my contact lenses, solutions, cases and eye care supplies come directly to my home, I don’t need to go to the store to get a new pair like I do when my glasses break or get lost.” While this, the third most popular reason we were given, may be biased because our clients are mostly online consumers who purchase their contacts, lens solutions and supplies on one of our websites, the logic held up even when talking with some of our friends in the industry. These are harried times and the more ways we can find to simplify our lives the better. With express reorder and automatic reminder programs at some online websites, the consumer can spend little or no time and automate the receipt of product - right in the comfort of their own homes.
While no one can say for sure certain purchases are thought of as necessary and others as discretionary. Let’s face it…people who need their vision corrected need to see well regardless of how good or bad the economy is. Add to that, the desire to look and feel good about ourselves and we tend to agree with the results of our polls. But what do you think… I would like to hear from you in answer to the question… “will you stop wearing contact lenses or will your spending cut back be in other areas?”
Tags: Contact Lenses
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My contact lenses are not something I would even consider cutting back on. Why would I ? This post is silly unless there really are screwballs out there that thing scrimping on you EYESIGHT is something worth doing.
I’d rather stop wearing shoes than stop being able to see well. I will not cut back on wearing contact lenses no matter how tough times get.
I think that people may make another choice which is equally as foolish as not buying and wearing contact lenses. I think fols may keep the lenses they have and try to extend the life of them, which any eye doctor will tell you is asking for problems, eye infections, bacteria as well as general discomfort that comes with cha choice like that.
The simple answer is if you have to cut back, cut back on eating out or take a staycation instead of that big trip to Europe, but please do not cut out your contact lenses and do not try to extend the use of the contact lenses for longer than they are intended/prescribed.
I really dont think many people will stop wearing contact lenses because of the recession. There are things people will spend on and things that they will pass on.
Looking your best is something that will never go out of fashion…. maybe I’ll cut back on my $5.00 Starbucks coffee but not on my contact lenses. Which by the way I get from CLEcontactlenses.com … their prices I find are always the best.
I would never stop wearing contacts because of my financial condition. What I might do is stretch a pair for an extra week, but that is not advisable, since they start to build bacteria, etc.
Post #5, please try not to do this.
I would NEVER take a chance with my eyesight and “stretch” a pair!
Would not switch - lenses are cheap enough online - especially at cle.
I have 2 toddlers - who LOVE to grab frames. It would cost me more to switch back to glasses.
I got rid of my BMW lease and that’s how I saved about $700 per month - I’m not going to try and save $50 and jeapordize my vision.
I get my contact lenses online. I wouldn’t cut back on them because they are cheap and necessary.
I just cancelled my annual ski trip which runs me about $3,000. We’ll go local for a few days skiiing for $750. My contacts are safe and sound in my eyes where they belong.
Sure, i’ll stop wearing lenses, sight is overrated. Haha, ill cut back on other things, not things i need.
Anyone that stops wearing their contact because of a recession is crazy. Find a place in your budget to cut from somewhere else other than your contact lenses.
You’ll have to pry the contact lenses from my cold dead eyes before I cut back on wearing something that improves my quality of life the way my acuvue contacts do.
Merry Christmas to all !
Cut back a little bit on the Christmas presents but not the contact lenses. Still got the kids “too much” but definitely not as much as usual - which is a good thing.
contacts let me see clearer
and clecontactlenses.com charges the lowest price I have ever found.
the economy is n the crapper but……
life is good.
I stop wearing contact lenses. I wore contact lense since 4 years. I wonder why my eye doctor has never worn contacts bfore. I ask him LOL. Now I wear glasses. The best thing I have done to my eye. I don’t touch my eye or will never put contatcs on my eyes again. I even ebenefitted from not wearing contacts my eye presciption went down. Thanks god for glasses. Now I use transition glasses and I don’t even rub my eyes. Why use contacts if you can see without them pretty good not 20/20 LOL