contact lens management

Naturally Wettable Comfort

Lens provides astigmatic patients with comfort and corneal stability.

STEVEN LUTZ, O.D.

Toric contact lens wearers demand two things from their contact lenses – great comfort and great vision. Contact lens practitioners demand a lens that can be predictably fit with a minimum of chair time. A wearing schedule that encourages patient compliance is a big plus also. Biofinity Toric, the latest new silicone hydrogel from CooperVision, meets all of these demands. It combines a great soft lens material, comfilcon A, with an excellent toric design.

I have been using Biofinity Toric in my office since early January 2009. I have fit more than 40 patients with this product, and I have been very impressed with this lens. I feel the Biofinity Toric is the best toric contact lens that has ever entered the marketplace.

Comfort

Biofinity Toric is made with the polymer comfilcon A. Comfilcon A is naturally wettable, has a low modulus, offers a high Dk (128), and it is approved for extended wear for up to six nights/seven days.

The polymer is inherently very wettable. Biofinity Toric has a low wetting angle, allowing water to spread out evenly on the lens surface. It does not require a wetting agent or surface treatment (plasma) to be hydrophilic and wet properly. CooperVision's Aquaform Comfort Science creates a naturally hydrophilic contact lens that retains water within the lens, which minimizes dehydration. Biofinity Toric, being naturally wettable, offers exceptional deposit resistance and comfort.

Biofinity Toric MATERIAL: Comfilcon A DK/T: 116 DK: 128 WEARING SCHEDULE: Extended wear or daily wear RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE: Monthly BASE CURVE: 8.7mm DIAMETER: 14.5mm PATIENT COST: $59.99 per box

The low modulus means that Biofinity Toric is not stiff, but rather is quite soft and "spongy," also helping to deliver great comfort. The massive oxygen flow (DK = 128) ensures great end-of-day comfort for those extra-long wearing times that many patients experience.

Vision

Biofinity Toric is made with a toric design that provides remarkably crisp vision. CooperVision started with its tried-and-true horizontal iso-thickness design, found in Biomedics Toric, and fine-tuned it to perform with the newer material.

I've always had great success with the Biomedics Toric design, finding it very stable rotationally, but wished that I could have more oxygen delivered to the cornea. Obviously, the oxygen issue has been addressed, but I've found the Optimized Ballast Design of Biofinity Toric to be even more stable than the Biomedics lens, which produces improved visual acuity.

I have also noticed that patients who have steeper corneal topography and large pupils get better vision with the new Biofinity Toric compared with the Biomedics Toric.

Quick fit/patient compliance

CooperVision also got the little things right with Biofinity Toric. The lens has a single orientation mark at 6 o'clock, and it is very easy to see. This sounds very basic, and it is, but its ease of visibility is a great time saver when fitting the patient. Also, the lens handles well, and it's easy to tell when the Biofinity toric is inside-out.

I also like the fact that the lens is designed for monthly replacement. In my office, the best compliance, by far, is seen with one-day and one-month replacement products.

Biofinity Toric is currently available in plano to -6.00; cylinders of -0.75, -1.25, and -1.75; and axis of 10° to 180°. Plus powers and a -2.25 cylinder will be available August 1.

Biofinity Toric has quickly become the "workhorse" soft toric contact lens in my office. Both the lens material and lens design are excellent. I encourage you to try Biofinity Toric in your practice. I think you will be very pleased with the results. OM