CONTACT LENS FOCUS

HONE IN THE ZONE

SATISFY PATIENTS WHO HAVE PRESBYOPIA AND WANT TO WEAR CONTACT LENSES

DAVID I. GEFFEN, O.D., F.A.A.O.

THE PRESBYOPIC population is rapidly growing, as both baby boomers and, increasingly, Gen X-ers are older than age 40. These populations are active, have high visual expectations and want to look younger. Contact lenses may provide them the opportunity to fulfill these desires, specifically, when considering: 1. many of these individuals successfully wore single-vision contact lenses before becoming presbyopic, and 2. innovations in multifocal lens designs have led to lenses such as Bausch + Lomb’s ULTRA for Presbyopia.

OVERVIEW

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia combines ULTRA’s MoistureSeal technology with the 3 Zone Progressive multifocal design of PureVision2 for Presbyopia to create a lens that combines comfort with utility, the company says. The lens provides clear vision at near and far, as well as intermediate distances, where our patients look the most during their day. It also provides smooth, quick transitions among the various viewing distances.

FITTING AND CHAIR TIME

The lens has proven, in my experience, to be easy to fit. The fitting guide is simple to understand and follow. Following it, I have found that I can satisfy the majority of my multifocal patients in one to two visits.

My patients routinely come in exclaiming that this is an extremely comfortable lens. They tell me how good the vision is at all their distances: cell phone, computer and far away.

I recommend this lens to patients who spend nine or more hours per day on digital devices, current contact lens patients who have developed presbyopia and presbyopes who have expressed a desire in contact lens wear. I find this lens is an especially good fit for my patients experiencing dryness and lens awareness with their current lenses.

PRACTICE BENEFITS

Research shows that once presbyopia occurs, interest in contact lenses remains high, but contact lens wear drops off around age 45, according to research from Kadence International, a marketing research firm. Multifocals provide a solution for these patients, allowing me to keep this patient population in contact lens wear.

I introduce the lens to new patients by saying: “I have a new lens developed with your needs in mind. The lens provides excellent vision at most distances, and the comfort has been superb; let’s give it a try.”

WIDE APPEAL

This innovative design gives me confidence to recommend multifocal lenses to existing contact lens wearers and presbyopes who are new to contact lenses. OM

DR. GEFFEN practices at the Gordon Weiss Schanzlin New Vision Institute, where he specializes in family eye care, contact lenses and cataract and refractive surgery consultations. Visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment to comment.