Document Yjeq2Qa58MqQXKVBVJJa0gQ7n

Survey to Eye Care Professionals on potential PFAS ban and its impact on patients The survey below is addressed to the Eye Care Professionals in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom. Results March - May 2023 Methodology Survey run online from 23rd March 2023 to 30th May 2023 The survey link was circulated by ECOO (European Council of Optometrists and Opticians) to its members * 513 participants completed the survey * Only 1 possible submission from one device and browser 2 Profile of respondents Where is your practice located ? Other... UK : 92 Switzerland : 26 3 Reading : 127 respondents to the survey have their practice located in Germany. Profile of respondents Does your practice supply and fit contact lenses ? Of your patients that use contact lenses, what is the percentage using RGP contact lenses in your practice (including scleral, orthokeratology, keratoconus, hybrid lenses etc) ? Average : 35% Reading : 99% of the respondents supply and fit contact lenses in their practice. Reading : 125 respondents have 6% or less of their patients that use contact lenses which use RGP contact lenses. 4 On average, 35% of patients that use contact lenses use RGP contact lenses in the surveyed practices. Alternative treatment for patients If RGP contact lenses were no longer available, approximately what percentage of your current RGP patients... > could you no longer treat ? Average : 52% of patients What conditions would you no longer be able to treat in your patients if RGP contact lenses were no longer available? Reading : On average, respondents consider that they could no longer treat 52% of their current RGP patients if RGP contact lenses were no longer available. 91% of respondents declared that they would no longer be able to treat patients with irregular corneas if RGP contact lenses were no longer available. 5 Alternative treatment for patients If RGP contact lenses were no longer available, approximately what percentage of your current RGP patients... > would be treated with alternative, but less effective, modalities ? For which conditions could you find an alternative treatment, if RGP contact lenses were no longer available due to a PFAS total ban? For these conditions which you can still treat, would the alternative treatment to RGP CL have comparable efficiency, quality of vision and comfort ? Average : 29% of patients Reading : On average, respondents consider that 29% of their current RGP patients would be treated with alternative, but less effective modalities, if RGP contact lenses were no longer available. 42,7% of respondents declared that they could find an alternative treatment for high astigmatism if RGP contact lenses were no longer available. 6 Alternative treatment for patients If RGP contact lenses were no longer available, approximately what percentage of your current RGP patients... > could you no longer treat ? Average : 52% of patients > would be treated with alternative, but less effective, modalities ? Average : 29% of patients 81% of current RGP patients would be no longer treated or treated with less effective alternatives 7 Impact on patients What do you anticipate to be the impact for patients who cannot be treated by means of RGP contact lenses due to a total ban on PFAS? Please estimate what percentage of your current RGP patients would have a visual acuity less than 6/12 (20/40) in both eyes if you could only use soft contact lenses or glasses to correct their vision Average : 44% Reading : 94% of the respondents anticipate a reduced quality of life for patients who cannot be treated by means of RGP contact lenses. 6% of the respondents estimate that at least 95% of their current RGP patients would have a visual acuity less than 6/12 (20/40) in both eyes if they could only use soft contact lenses8or glasses. On average, respondents estimate that 44% of their current RGP patients would have a visual acuity less than 6/12 (20/40) in both eyes if they could only use soft contact lenses or glasses. What, if any, specific health and safety risks to patients do you think would arise if you can no longer treat them with RGP lenses? Reading : 75,2% of the respondents think that patients will continue to use old/out of date medical devices in they can no longer treat them with RGP lenses 9