(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — For more than 30 years, tens of thousands of music lovers from across the eye care and eyewear world have turned out to hear the Bad Habits—“The EyeDocs of Rock”—play in venues large and small. When the band kicked off its second set at the 2024 Vision Expo East opening event in New York, fans packing Sony Hall at the Paramount Hotel had to look twice: the group had suddenly rebranded itself as the Good Habits for one night only.
This temporary name change resulted from a partnership with the Contact Lens Institute™ (CLI). The industry association is previewing new consumer research that shows how simple adjustments to how eye care practices communicate with patients can spark increased contact lens prescribing—bad habits made good.
“As practicing optometrists, we couldn’t resist the chance to have some fun with this new CLI data, helping bring awareness to some intriguing insights that can benefit both patients and practices alike,” said bassist Michael “Jules” Raies, OD.
Among the CLI findings were that significant untapped contact lens demand exists, with almost one in two (47.8%) U.S. glasses wearers who have never tried contacts saying they are highly interested. However, only one in 10 (10.5%) said their optometrist or ophthalmologist had recommended they consider contact lenses, with even lower rates from exam staff (6%), optical/eyewear display staff (3%), and administrative staff (2%) within the office.
Adorned in jet black t-shirts with a custom Good Habits logo, the band launched into a song apropos for the moment: Lipps Inc.’s Funkytown and its signature “talk about it, talk about it, talk about it, talk about it” lyrics. As hundreds sang and danced along, the animated Good Habits logo twirled across the walls, encouraging everyone to visit GoodHabitsRock.com.
CLI expects to publish its in-depth research report in April, part of its See Tomorrow initiative. Copies can obtained at no cost by visiting GoodHabitsRock.com or ContactLensInstitute.org.
The Contact Lens Institute advances the latest innovations in safe and effective contact lens and lens care products and services that provide unique benefits to patients while satisfying the evolving needs of eye care professionals. CLI undertakes activities that properly assess, enhance, promote, and balance contact lens and lens care industry welfare and growth, including the safe use of products in the marketplace. Its members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. For more information, visit contactlensinstitute.org.