CONTACT LENS FOCUS

ACT ON MONTHLY COMFORT

ACUVUE VITA OFFERS UV-BLOCKING AND HYDRATING TECHNOLOGY

BRAD GIEDD, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.

MORE THAN two thirds of responding contact lens wearers say they are not completely happy with their daily wear, monthly replacement contact lenses, according to research from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (J&J). Specifically, they reported complaints of dryness, discomfort, lens awareness or irritation. Of those respondents, two thirds report they are unlikely to mention dissatisfaction with their contact lenses to their eye care practitioners. If that doesn’t set off alarm bells, I’m not sure what does. I’ve found that ACUVUE VITA, from J&J, helps meet the needs of these patients.

OVERVIEW

ACUVUE VITA is a new monthly replacement lens that can provide a full month of comfortable wear because it contains a reformulated ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicones in the lens matrix and a patented amphiphilic wetting agent that maximizes hydration. It also provides Class 1 UV protection, according to the company.

PROCEDURE

When I discuss Vita with my patients, specifically those who have already chosen a re-usable modality, I share my experiences, and I often offer a trial run. Through patient feedback, I have found that the initial patient experience with the lens has been enough to gain patient approval.

Fitting the lens is similar to fitting most J&J lenses. In my experience fitting this lens, the standard infinity edge design makes for a comfortable fit and great first impression. The lens’ two base curves give the practitioner the ability to fit a majority of corneal curvatures.

PRACTICE BENEFITS/ROI

Although my practice philosophy is to recommend daily disposable contact lenses as the first option, about 40% of new soft contact lenses wearers choose monthly replacement as their modality of choice, according to January’s Contact Lens Spectrum. My approach for adding new contact lenses in my practice is to fit the product on between 10 and 20 “typical” patients. This lens passed my office test.

Patients who have found positive results with the lens include: new wearers, patients dissatisfied with their current lens and patients new to my practice and indifferent/unaware of what product they were wearing. I’ve taken advantage of all these situations to offer patients the latest innovation and I am confident the lens will give my patients comfort and vision for the entire wearing period.

EXTRA VALUE

ACUVUE VITA offers a new alternative and an opportunity for providing an extra value to patients. OM

DR. GIEDD is in private practice at Eye Associates of Winter Park in Winter Park, Fla. His practice emphasizes specialty contact lens fitting; he also conducts clinical research including clinical trials as an investigator for several contact lens manufacturers. He consults for both Alcon and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment to comment on this article.