Toric Multifocals? Are You Kidding?
A new contact lens is aimed at dissatisfied monovision patients.
JAMES MUSE, O.D.

My skepticism was at an all-time high when my Unilens representative briefed me on the new C-Vue55 toric multifocal lens the company had introduced. I just smiled and nodded while he sang its praises. I remember thinking to myself: Multifocals — challenge. Toric multifocals — death wish.

After fitting the lens on a few patients, though, I soon realized the value; value in visual clarity, comfort, and in helping to provide for another niche in my practice — presbyopic astigmats. Patients marvel at the comfort first, then, after the equilibration time, are pleasantly surprised with their overall vision. In the past I would have run to my arsenal of multifocal GPs, but Unilens now gives me another option for these patients with the C-Vue55 Toric Multifocal.

Matching lens to patient

The prime candidate for this lens is the dissatisfied toric monovision patient. In my predominantly "mature" patient base, many are experiencing astigmatic creep and find their spherical or toric monovision correction becoming quite inadequate. The C-Vue55 Toric Multifocal solves this problem by bringing back binocularity and better intermediate and near vision when compared with their monovision lenses. The C-Vue55 is available as a yearly and a quarterly-planned replacement lens.

Simplified fitting

The C-Vue55 doesn't require lengthy fitting guides or formulas.

You don't need any lengthy fitting guides or formulas with this lens. Only the patient's refraction corrected for vertex distance, a straightforward base curve selection and a few helpful hints with the add power are all that's needed. Better still, have one of the company's experienced consultants design the lens for you based on keratometry readings and refraction. Upon delivery of their lenses, patients are impressed with the intermediate and near vision — usually J2 or better. Distance acuities are generally around 20/30 or better. On occasion, I will have to order an additional lens to improve clarity based on the overrefraction, but I've been amazed at how well the patient sees with the empirically fit, first pair of lenses.

I have found that the best day for dispensing this lens to the patient is Friday: Weekends offer the perfect opportunity to break-in the lens, because visual demand is low. When the visual demand becomes greater upon Monday's return to work, the patient has already had a couple of days to adjust to the lens, which can improve his or her success.

Lens facts

The C-Vue55 comes in four base curves, sphere powers to 20.00D, cylinder to -4.00D, 1 axis steps, and add powers up to +3.00D. This allows for a wide range of refractive correction. I have found the the lens to be a great asset in those hyperopic astigmats who need a full 2.50D add.  

Risk is rewarded

You can raise your fitting fees for this multifocal lens because it offers a high level of performance. And it performs for the presbyopic astigmat! You'll be impressed at the simplicity of the fitting, and the quality alternative you can provide for your patient in comfort and overall acuity. OM

DR. MUSE IS A GRADUATE OF SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AND HAS RECENTLY OPENED THE DOORS TO HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE, MUSEUM EYECARE, IN OCALA, FLA. CONTACT HIM AT (352)746-2246.