The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has released a comprehensive new report titled "Digital Discovery: Consumer Searches Reveal Contact Lens Realities" that offers detailed insights into how and why consumers in the United States and Canada search online for contact lens-related information. The 30-page report, which is part of CLI’s ongoing See Tomorrow initiative, is designed to help eyecare professionals adapt communication, education, and practice management strategies based on evolving digital behaviors.
Purchase Motivation Drives Most Contact Lens Searches
CLI’s analysis found that approximately 65% of Google autocomplete contact lens searches are purchase driven. Users are increasingly comparing brands and retailers before making decisions, which suggests that in-office conversations about cost, availability, and value are essential.
The report also identified rising trends in related searches that reflect a broad interest in brand differentiation and purchase options. Because of these trends, there is a need for proactive communication about product choices and pricing during consultations.
Unasked Questions Surface in Online Behavior
Consumers are turning to search engines, AI platforms, and smart speakers to ask questions they may not pose during an exam. These questions include concerns about health and safety, cost, wear and care, and how different brands compare. Clinicians have an opportunity to preemptively address these concerns in conversations and digital materials, CLI reported.
The report also emphasized optimizing practice websites for location-based search—especially by including terms like “eye doctor,” which has become the preferred shorthand for patients seeking contact lens care.
And while tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini are growing in popularity and the technology continues to improve, CLI recommends that practitioners discuss the limitations and mixed reliability of AI-generated answers with patients, especially because nearly half of US and Canadian adults have used AI tools.
Broader Trends and Practice Support Tools
Other topics explored in the report include:
- Popular search queries related to contact lens insertion and removal
- Searches on part-time use of contact lenses with glasses
- Regional and global conversation trends on X (Twitter) about daily disposable, smart, and eco-friendly lenses; the myopia control debate; and challenges with online buying
- Multilingual searches that reflect a more diverse patient base. In the United States, searches are often in Spanish or Simplified or Traditional Chinese. Searches in Canada are also in Chinese, as well as French.
To help practices act on these findings, Digital Discovery provides:
- 16 “how to” articles from US and Canadian eyecare experts
- 15 infographics and data visuals that support quick insights and staff training
The full report is available at:
www.contactlensinstitute.org/resources/digital-search