New consumer and professional research
Contact Lens Institute™ (CLI) and the United Opticians Association (UOA) today announced new consumer and professional research that illustrates opticians’ vital roles in optimizing contact lens experiences, including high levels of patient trust. Opticians themselves report having multiple contact lens-related responsibilities, yet also desire additional involvement and education.
The findings are now available as a free downloadable report from https://contactlensinstitute.org/resources/see-tomorrow/, the latest installment in CLI’s See Tomorrow series.
The January 2026 survey of U.S. and Canadian contact lens patients indicated that 89% believe opticians are important in helping to achieve the best vision possible, with 83% saying opticians were extremely or very valuable to their contact lens-specific experience. Another 84% of contact lens users indicate their interactions with opticians made them more confident about wear and care. Patients are also likely to turn to opticians for help with a contact lens issue—85% say they definitely or probably would do so.
When asked about multiple contact lens roles relating to instruction and care, about nine in 10 patients were familiar with opticians’ undertaking these tasks. More than 80% also expect their opticians to answer questions, provide insertion and removal training, and recommend resources to improve the experience. Approximately two-thirds or more of opticians say they have these responsibilities.
An expectation-to-action outlier was optician-led home follow-up (e.g., via phone, email, or text) following a new contact lens prescription. While 70% of patients expect opticians to do this, only 34% of opticians report conducting such outreach.
Of particular note is patient trust in opticians’ performance of contact lens education and related tasks: results were above 80% across the board, on par with how consumers scored ophthalmologists and optometrists.
In relation to their contact lens wear, respondents chose contact lens knowledge as a quality that matters most to them in opticians, followed closely by professionalism. And although 60% of wearers said that they are very satisfied with their opticians’ guidance, another 32% said they were only somewhat satisfied, exposing opportunities for enhanced care.
Greater professional education may prove valuable. About half of opticians (48%) say their knowledge of contact lenses is the same as spectacle frames and lenses, although 38% report they know moderately or significantly less. And when given the opportunity, 56% say they would like to be more involved in the contact lens patient wearing experience, yet 28% say they are uncertain.
Importantly, opticians want to learn more. Two-thirds (67%) report a high interest in taking advantage of additional contact lens training if such were accessible. Preference as to where education should take place is split, with 52% requesting online methods and 48% wanting in-person options.
“Success with contact lens wear is a team effort, and opticians play a vital role. Our new research reinforces past CLI See Tomorrow findings that every member of the practice contributes to the wearing experience, and it highlights opportunities for practice leaders to better leverage opticians’ knowledge and the trust that patients place in them,” said Stan Rogaski, CLI’s executive director.
“Opticians are visibly proud of their roles in aiding contact lens wearers, and eager to learn and do more. That’s one sign of a healthy profession, and we are focused on identifying new occasions to provide contact lens education that our members want,” said Gwen Cooper, MPA, CFRE, executive director of the United Opticians Association.
For more information, visit contactlensinstitute.org.
