contact lens focus

Meeting Digital Visual Needs

Contact lens offers hope for presbyopes in a high-tech world.

CORRIE PELC, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

The ever-expanding use of computers in our daily lives requires eyecare needs that are difficult to meet.

Today’s presbyopic patients are utilizing many different smart devices, which puts extra importance on the need for excellent intermediate vision, according to David Geffen, O.D., of La Jolla, Calif.

“Our patients are using (digital tablets) and computers to view their grandkids’ pictures, e-mails, buy things and, of course, look up their medical conditions,” he explains. “Intermediate acuity may be more important than near [vision] due to these demands.”

This was one of the key reasons those interviewed decided to offer the PureVision2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia.

Overview

PureVision2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia is indicated for daily wear for the correction of refractive ametropia (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) and presbyopia), says Bausch + Lomb.

The lens provides a power range of +6.00D to -10.00D with an add power ranging from +0.75D to +1.50D (low add) and +1.75D to +2.50D (high add).

The lens’ 3-Zone Progressive Design offers improved near and distance vision, as well as intermediate vision, says Rhonda Robinson, O.D., of Indianapolis, Ind. This benefits those who use computers throughout the day, which is most presbyopic patients, says Dr. Robinson.

“The key to the new multifocal is an expanded intermediate power zone for computer users, which is pretty much everybody today,” she says. “Intermediate vision equals computer distance, so, of course, a larger area of intermediate optics for the computer user is extremely important.”

PureVision2 Multi-focal Contact Lenses for Presbyopia

MATERIAL: balafilcon A

DK/T: 130 at center for -3.00D

WEARING SCHEDULE: Daily wear and extended wear up to 30 days

RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT

SCHEDULE: Monthly

DIAMETER 14.0mm

BASE CURVE 8.6mm

POWER: +6.00D to -10.00D in 0.25D steps

More advanced presbyopic patients who have high add power requirements adapt to them quickly, Dr. Robinson adds. “Their distance vision comes in fast with this design,” she says.

The PureVision2 for presbyopia offers a thin, rounded edge, which Dr. Geffen says has impressed his patients. “They find the thin design is just extremely easy on their eyelids,” he explains. “They’re able to wear it all day.”

Fitting & chair time

It’s no secret that fitting presbyopic patients in contact lenses tends to require more chair time than fitting patients who have standard prescriptions. Dr. Geffen says he has been able to cut down on this chair time and achieve an excellent fit in one to two visits with the PureVision2 for presbyopia.

Dr. Robinson, who says she has also reduced her chair time fitting presbyopic patients, attributes this to the lens’ accurate power profiles for distance, intermediate and near. “The lens’ technology helps make the fitting procedure that much easier,” she says.

By following B+L’s fitting guide for the PureVision2 for presbyopia, those interviewed say they’ve been successful in fitting these lenses.

Dr. Robinson advises starting patients with a fresh refraction and using the lens’ fitting guide, as the lens’ optics are different from previous multifocal lenses.

Dr. Geffen agrees with this sentiment. “You really want to follow the fitting guide,” he adds. “Your success rate will really go up if you do that,” he says.

Marketing & ROI

Through the last six months he has offered the PureVision2 for presbyopia, Dr. Geffen says he has seen a “good” ROI with the lens due to decreased chair time. “By reducing our chair time, we can now see other types of patients in these spots to generate more income,” he says.

For a typical office visit of $75, Dr. Geffen says he can now generate an extra $1,200 per month toward his bottom line.

Dr. Geffen says he has seen an increase in new patients as well. “Patients are very happy, and I’m getting a lot more referrals,” he says. “[Patients] are going to work and telling their coworkers, ‘Look at these lenses. I can read, and I can see distance.’ It’s been a great boon to my practice.”

Everyone wins

Those interviewed agree the PureVision2 for presbyopia offers their patients ease of fit, clarity and comfort.

The lens provides a solution to the frustration presbyopic computer users can have with wearing progressive spectacle lenses, making it a solution for any practice, says Dr. Robinson.

“To keep their binocularity and to give them better distance, intermediate and close in a soft contact lens is a win for the patient and a win for the practice,” she says. OM

CORRIE PELC IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF. SHE HAS WRITTEN FOR BOTH CONSUMER AND TRADE PUBLICATIONS AND IS THE FORMER COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR THE CALIFORNIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION. E-MAIL HER AT CORRIE.PELC@GMAIL.COM, OR SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.