contact lens management
Aspheric Contact Lens Fills A Niche
Emerging presbyopes and low astigmats find another option.
JEROME SUDE, O.D.

With the advent of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and all the promotional activity that accompanies them, we should keep in mind the many other contact lens options we have at our disposal. Various lens materials provide therapeutic alternatives to ocular problems of dry eyes, lid sensitivity, glare, blurred vision and potential non-acceptance of silicone lenses. The introduction of Sauflon Pharmaceutical's new Sauflon 55UV Aspheric soft lens, aimed at low astigmats and emerging presbyopes, offers an excellent addition to our armamentarium of problem-solving lenses.

Taking a close look

I recently completed an in-office study on the clinical and economic feasibility of three new contact lens products for the U.S. market. The Sauflon Aspheric was one of them.

Collectively, the practices in this study fit this lens on 62 patients over an initial two-month period. The patients were either new contact lens wearers or patients who we converted to the lens. Patients wore the lens on a daily-wear basis.

We found that 95% of the patients reported average to excellent comfort. All patients exhibited good to excellent corneal and conjunctival health based on conjunctival injection and neovascularization after wearing the lenses for four to six weeks. Of the patients who previously wore contact lenses, 90% reported the Sauflon 55UV Aspheric gave superior, more defined vision. Clinicians measuring their vision found it to be 20/20 or better.

The emerging presbyopes (both new and existing wearers) in the study reported their near-point vision sufficiently improved that monovision or bifocal contact lenses were unnecessary. Four patients reported experiencing less glare at night.

Sauflon 55UV Aspheric

LENS POWERS: –0.25D to –8.00D (0.25D steps); –8.50 to –10.00D (0.50D steps); +0.25D to +8.00D (0.25D steps) BASE CURVES: 8.7mm DIAMETER: 14.4mm DK/T: 25.6 MATERIAL: Methafilcon A PRICE: $12.00 per six-pack; call for promotional pricing. UVA AND UVB PROTECTION

Delivery matters

We enrolled most of these patients in an automatic delivery system the company offers to all patients through which their contacts arrive at their home automatically every six months. Under this system, Sauflon charges the patient's credit card and sends a reminder of the charge through the mail.

Our large contact lens practice has always focused on retaining patients. Our philosophy is to create compliance along with convenience by encouraging our patients to make their contact lens purchases from our practice. The automatic delivery system makes our goal much easier to achieve. Because of the improvement in compliance and sales, contact lens revenues have increased.

It's my workhorse

In my large contact lens practice, I have used contact lens modalities other than aspherics. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this lens has performed. The Sauflon 55UV Aspheric has become an integral part of my practice, filling a real niche for early presbyopes and low astigmats by improving near-point vision.

DR. SUDE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NOVUS CLINIC IN TALLMADEGE, OHIO AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SUMMIT COUNTY OPTOMETRIC SOCIETY. YOU CAN E-MAIL HIM AT JSUDE@NOVUSCLINIC.COM.