Chewable formulas can help those who have difficulty swallowing pills

Complaints from patients about having a hard time swallowing pills or fatigue from taking too many pills rose in my office. It turns out my patients aren’t alone, as approximately 40% of adults report experiencing some degree of swallowing difficulty, according to a 2004 survey from Harris Interactive, a Rochester, NY marketing firm. This can impact their ability to take vitamins and supplements important to their health. The PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula chewable eye vitamins, from Bausch + Lomb, was introduced in my practice to address this feedback.

OVERVIEW

The ocular nutritional supplement contains the exact levels of six key nutrients recommended by the NEI, with the added convenience of a chewable vitamin in a mixed berry flavor. It helps reduce the risk of disease progression in people who have moderate to advanced AMD. There are no contraindications.

The PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula chewable eye vitamins is sold OTC.

Optometrists who recommend it may see an increase in compliance, specifically in those patients who prefer a chewable delivery method to swallowing a pill.

PRESENTATION TO THE PATIENT

My procedure for addressing patients in my office is:

1. We discuss the importance of lifestyle changes in patients who have AMD, and then I discuss supplement needs, and I always make a specific recommendation. I ask my patients whether they prefer a gel-cap, which they can swallow, or a chewable. I then get a sample of whichever they prefer to show it to them and reinforce exactly what they should be getting at the store.
2. I recommend the PreserVision AREDS 2 formula to all my patients for whom the clinical research, provided by AREDS and AREDS 2, shows can potentially benefit. So far, my patients have been very happy with the chewable product, specifically, and I anticipate that number increasing steadily over the next several months.
3. I also provide my patients with information about patient education programs. For example, the “Joy of Sight,” which is a program through Bausch + Lomb. This program provides information on AMD and practical tips to help patients manage their conditions in between office visits. It also offers coupons. Patients may enroll on the website, joyofsight.com .

PRACTICE BENEFITS

Most of my patients have reacted favorably to the taste and ease of use of the chewable supplement. What’s more, listening to your patients and being responsive to their needs helps to increase compliance to your treatment plans and, therefore, aids in the overall ocular health of your patients. It can also have an added benefit for your practice, by elevating your credibility and positive interactions with patients, who may then share this experience with their friends and family. OM

DR. GERSON is in private practice, seeing primary care patients with an emphasis on retinal care. He is a graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry and went on to a VA residency, concentrating on low vision and ocular disease. He is a frequent lecturer and contributor to optometric publications. He is a consultant to Bausch + Lomb.