contact lens focus

Daily Contact Lens Success

New one day lens offers patients comfort and quality

LAURIE SORRENSON, O.D. F.A.A.O.

For several years, there has been a push toward fitting patients in daily disposable contact lenses. In fact, several studies have shown fewer adverse events with the daily modality vs. other modalities.

Our practice began fitting patients with the clariti 1day family of lenses, from CooperVision, in May 2014.

Overview

The clariti 1day lenses feature a silicone hydrogel material that provides high breathability as well as high water content, made possible by the company’s AquaGen technology. Combined, these attributes provide wearers with all-day comfort, the company says. In addition, the lenses block both UVA and UVB light. The lenses are available in three modalities, spherical, toric and multifocal, enabling doctors to fit a variety of patients.

Fitting and chair time

Chair time with these lenses is minimal, and is comparable to other daily replacement lenses.

Based on the attributes listed above, many of my patients would benefit from clariti 1day lenses. Specifically, the patients I identify as possible candidates include (a) current non-silicone hydrogel daily lens wearers; (b) monthly or two-week lens wearers; (c) as well as new contact lens wearers.

Marketing

Our marketing efforts were concentrated in the office. The doctors and tech team created a goal of increasing our daily disposable sales. To do accomplish this, we created a new billing code we designated as “TD” (Trial Dailies). So, every patient who was a candidate for the new clariti daily lens received a five to 10-day supply. We would then enter the “TD” code in the billing section for the patient.

Practice benefits and ROI

To track our progress, our practice management software provided us with weekly and month-to-date reports on how many trial lenses were dispensed by the office overall and by each individual doctor.

Our daily sales were up more than 30% within three months of initiating the new billing code. Many of our patients went on to purchase a year’s supply. In fact, since prescribing clariti 1day lenses, they have become our No. 1 daily lens for new fits for all three modalities.

On the bandwagon

With the clariti 1day lenses, we can offer a wide variety of patients a quality daily silicone hydrogel lens that handles well, offers UV protection, is comfortable and provides excellent optics. We have officially “jumped on the daily disposable bandwagon.” Maybe it’s your turn? OM

DR. SORRENSON IS OWNER OF LAKELINE VISION SOURCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, A PRACTICE SPECIALIZING IN DRY EYE, GLAUCOMA AND SPECIALTY FIT CONTACT LENSES. SHE IS THE 4TH YEAR PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COURSE-MASTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AND HAS BEEN A VISION SOURCE ADMINISTRATOR SINCE THE 1990S. SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.