Seize an opportunity to offer contact lenses to patients who have presbyopia

Mask wearing creates a challenge for many eyeglass wearers in the fogging of the lenses, which can be frustrating. I am assuming people will be wearing masks for some time in the near future. This creates another opportunity to offer and grow the number of presbyopic contact lens wearers in your practice.

Here are some ideas to help:

1 HAVE STAFF PARTICIPATE

If appropriate, encourage doctors and staff members to wear contact lenses in the office. When most of the doctors and staff are wearing contact lenses to help combat the daily fogging issues, more patients will be inclined to try and utilize them. I am presbyopic and contact lenses have made a big difference through long clinic days of wearing masks.

Note that fogging of fundus lenses and slit lamp lenses can be an issue as well. Consider taking breaks to allow time for it to clear.

2 FOCUS ON THE TECHNOLOGY

It is our job to update patients on the changes in technology from visit to visit. There are some patients who tried multifocal lenses, and their needs were not met for some reason. Therefore, discuss the advances in technology and improvement in optics, comfort and convenience with your presbyopic patients. I have found many of these patients to be open and responsive of their personal visual requirements being addressed, which will help that transition from eyeglasses to contact lenses.

3 DISCUSS EXPECTATIONS

Being mentally ready for multifocal contact lenses is important. When a patient first starts wearing presbyopia-correcting contact lenses, they have the ability to get stuck in what they can’t see with their lenses, but eventually that flips, and they are more aware of what they can see with them. Setting those expectations is key to achieving a conversion. To do so, patients should know these lenses will not return them to their 18-year-old ability to focus, but rather improve their range of clear vision. I let them know, “the extreme distance and near may not be sharp. For example, you still may not be able to see that ‘pill-bottle’-sized print or read a street sign from a mile away in the dark, but the 90% of what you do throughout the day will be in focus.”

4 FOCUS ON THE FITTING GUIDES

Once you have a patient interested in wearing multifocal contact lenses again, don’t lose them in the fitting process: Follow the fitting guides. Many clinical studies were performed in developing them, and they are all unique. Capitalize on those potential learnings to, in my experience, streamline the number of contact lens follow-ups and see improved success rates.

5 DON’T LOSE FAITH

Finally, don’t lose faith if someone says they just want to wear their multifocal contact lenses on a part-time basis. This is not a failure, but rather a huge success. Your patient can utilize eyeglasses for some tasks and contact lenses for others. They have the flexibility to decide what is best.

PRESENT A SOLUTION

Multifocal contact lenses are a growing category of wearers with a little effort. Make sure to offer a solution to spectacle-wearing patients for problems presented by mask wearing. And focus on these key steps to minimize the frustrations associated with presbyopic contact lens wearers. OM

DR. MILLER is a partner at Eyecare Professionals of Powell, Ohio. He is past president of the Ohio Optometric Association. Dr. Miller has received honoraria for consulting, lecturing, research or acting in an advisory capacity from: Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, J&J Vision Care, Revolution EHR and Shire.