Key Takeaways
- Contact lens patients were associated with 29% to 86% higher annual profits than eyeglasses-only patients in an analysis of data from 20 US optometry practices
- Researchers examined 4 years of revenue and expense data involving 600 patients, along with factors such as examination frequency, demographics, and practice costs
- CLI's new report pairs the research findings with financial modeling tools, practice worksheets, expert guidance, and a 90-day implementation plan
A new report from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) suggests that contact lens patients may generate substantially higher annual profits for optometry practices than patients who rely exclusively on eyeglasses.
The report, "Profitability Perspectives: Rethinking the Value of Contact Lenses," examines factors influencing the profitability of contact lens and glasses patients in US practices. According to CLI, the research found annual profits associated with contact lens patients were 29% to 86% higher than those associated with eyeglasses-only patients.
The findings were developed by an independent research team comprising Philip Morgan, professor at the University of Manchester; Lyndon Jones, professor and director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo; and Ash Morgan and John Whitehead, professors in the Department of Economics at Appalachian State University.
Between November 2025 and May 2026, the researchers collected data from 20 optometry offices across the United States, representing a range of geographic locations and practice settings. The data included 4 years of revenues and expenses for 600 patients using different forms of vision correction, along with information related to each patient's most recent representative purchase. The aggregated analysis also considered factors including examination frequency, patient age and gender, and practice costs.
“The work shows that contact lens wearers are more profitable to an optometric practice than people using eyeglasses alone,” the investigators wrote. They noted that the commercial benefit depends on the performance of contemporary contact lenses, characterizing increased profitability as a downstream effect of patient satisfaction and clinical success.
Stan Rogaski, executive director of CLI, said the economic findings may reflect broader benefits associated with the relationship between contact lens patients and their eye care practices.
“Contact lens wear can often signal a deeper, more durable relationship between patient and practice fostered by clinical expertise, convenience, added choice, and trust,” Mr. Rogaski said. “The economic advantages identified in our new report are measurable results of that patient-centered care.”
Beyond the research findings, Profitability Perspectives is designed to provide practices with resources for evaluating the potential financial impact of contact lens prescribing. The publication includes incremental and lifetime gain models and worksheets, video and written guidance from CLI Visionaries, and a 90-day implementation plan.
The report also incorporates a retrospective review of quantitative research conducted through CLI's See Tomorrow initiative, examining how current and prospective wearers perceive and value contact lenses.
CLI plans to highlight the report and its findings during the American Academy of Optometry 2026 Annual Meeting, scheduled for September 30 through October 3 in Anaheim, California. The organization has also released a 12-part YouTube series featuring 1-minute discussions of the findings with three members of the research team.
The full Profitability Perspectives: Rethinking the Value of Contact Lenses report is available at profitabilityperspectives.com.
