Photo courtesy of Dr. Josie Ziegler, who seen in the contact lens room in her practice. She shares tips for growing your daily disposable contact lens share in a short time.
Growing your daily disposable con act lens patient base
By Josie Ziegler, OD
Sept. 17, 2025
A few years ago, daily disposable contact lenses made up just half of my contact lens practice. Today, they account for an impressive 71.4 percent of my contact lens patients.
That’s a growth rate of about 10 to 15 percent per year for the past three years, and the benefits continue to add up for both patients and my practice.
Starting the Conversation: Health First
When talking to patients about shifting to daily disposables, I always start with a conversation about lens hygiene: How often are you removing your lenses? How frequently are you actually discarding them?
Most monthly lens wearers admit they stretch their lenses to four to six weeks; two-week lens wearers often push well past recommended changes.
This opens the door for patient education. I explain, “I honestly don’t prescribe monthly lenses often because daily lenses are a healthier option. Daily lenses are thinner and allow better natural nutrient exchange, which means greater comfort, stability and vision. They also come with a lower risk of complications and infections.” Framing the change as a health upgrade—not an expense—is key.
Navigating the Cost Conversation
Cost is usually the primary concern with daily lenses. Patients worry they’ll be spending significantly more. My approach is to walk through the numbers: “Yes, daily lenses cost more up front, but on average the yearly difference is about $200. That’s factoring in cases and solutions required for monthly lenses—if you’re using them as you should.”
Most patients are willing to at least give daily lenses a try once we talk through the math and health benefits. I have opticians who break down pricing using a simple form, comparing their current costs for extended wear lenses to what they’d spend on daily disposables. This level of transparency helps patients feel confident in their decision.
Team Communication: Consistency Matters
My team has been trained to reinforce these conversations. Patients often share questions or concerns with staff that they might not voice to me. My opticians break down the numbers, walk through daily versus monthly costs and share the same health-focused message. When a patient sees that the doctor and the staff are united in their recommendations, trust goes up and resistance drops.
On Inventory and Convenience
We don’t keep boxes of lenses in our office for resale. Instead, we offer direct shipping to each patient who purchases a year’s supply. This means no outlay of capital for inventory and no risk of having unsold product taking up space.
Education From Industry Experts
Our contact lens representatives are key resources for keeping us updated. They regularly visit to check and restock our trial lenses, familiarize staff and doctors with new products and technology, and keep us up to date on rebates. Being one of the first practices in our area with new fit sets gives our patients access to the latest options right away. While we don’t use formal scripts, I take the lead in educating both my patients and my team about any innovations that hit the market.
When Patients Mention Hubble and Online Retailers
It’s become less frequent, but when patients bring up Hubble or similar online sellers, I always explain why prescription contact lenses should be purchased as recommended. “Contact lens prescriptions are like drug prescriptions,” I tell them. “You’re only supposed to wear what the doctor prescribes.”
I also remind them Hubble lenses use older materials and, in my experience, patients using them often run into complications—even when they say they’re compliant.
If a patient mentions buying through another online retailer, I outline the benefits of sticking with us: strong rebates that can match or beat online prices, vision discount plans and the flexibility to exchange unopened boxes if their prescription changes.
Takeaways: Driving Growth and Patient Health
By consistently educating patients, having transparent cost conversations and ensuring my team delivers a unified message, I’ve seen daily disposable lens use climb steadily. From 50 percent to over 70 percent of my contact lens base in just one year, and a patient experience that’s healthier and more convenient for everyone.
If you’re hesitant about how to make the shift to daily disposables in your practice, start by framing the conversation around health benefits and real costs.
Train your team, let your reps keep you on the cutting edge and focus on always doing what’s best for your patient. The results can speak for themselves.
Read another article by Dr. Ziegler
Josie Ziegler, OD, practices with Harper’s Point Eye Associates , an AEG Vision practice, in Cincinnati, Ohio. To contact her: jziegler@harperspointeye.com
