There has been a slight increase in the global use of rigid contact lenses from 2000 to 2023, according to a study. This trend is primarily due to a shift away from traditional corneal spherical lenses towards newer applications like scleral and corneo-scleral lenses and myopia control therapies.
The research analyzed data from 342,500 lens fittings across 20 countries.
The study found a slight overall increase in rigid lens prescribing, from 14.2% of all contact lens fittings in 2000 to 15.2% in 2023. This increase, however, follows a pattern of decline from 2000 to 2012, followed by a steady rise in the subsequent years. Significant variations in rigid lens prescribing practices were observed across different countries.
Rigid lens wearers are generally older, with an average fitting age of 38.7 years compared to 31.3 years for soft lens wearers. The study also found a minor, but statistically significant, difference in rigid lens prescribing between genders, with 12.7% of males and 12.0% of females fitted with rigid lenses.
In recent years (2019-2023), the distribution of rigid lenses has shifted: 30% were corneal spherical lenses, 28% were scleral or corneo-scleral lenses, 21% were for corneal myopia control or orthokeratology, and 16% were for corneal complex needs including toric, multifocal, and monovision lenses.
Reference
Efron N, Morgan PB, Woods CA, et al. International trends in rigid contact lens prescribing (2000-2023): An update. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2024;102255. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2024.102255. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38942659.
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