Daily disposable contact lens provides comfort during screen time

For today’s patients, digital eye strain is a common complaint. CooperVision has responded to this issue by making available a daily disposable contact lens designed to provide comfort for contact lens wearers during screen time. This lens is MyDay Energys.

MyDay Energys, available in sphere powers of +8.00 D to -12.00 D (0.50 D steps after +5.00 D and -6.00 D) with no plano option, are comprised of the company’s proprietary Aquaform Technology and a +0.3 D DigitalBoost.

The former provides a balance of high-oxygen permeability, a wettable material, and an optimum modulus for increased breathability, according to the company.

The latter helps decrease the eye tiredness linked with digital eye strain, so wearers can comfortably shift their focus from their digital devices to offline activities, the company says.

Here, three optometrists discuss the attributes of MyDay Energys.

A needed boost

Sarah Flanagan, OD, of the Roswell Eye Clinic, in Roswell, Ga., says she fits the contact lens because it allows people to go through their daily digitally filled lives without end-of-day ocular fatigue:

“The comfort is the same as the original MyDay lens, but it just has the DigitalBoost,” she asserts.

This is significant, as extended digital device use can cause dry eyes, itching, foreign-body sensation, watering, blurring of vision, and headache, according to a review of digital eye strain, published in a recent issue of Ophthalmology and Therapy.

Dr. Flanagan, who says she wears these contact lenses herself, acknowledges that she, too, has noticed significantly less eye fatigue at the end of the day:

“I used to wear +0.50 blue light glasses but since wearing MyDay Energys, I don’t find myself reaching for them as frequently,” she says.

Bye bye, dry

Ethan Huisman, OD, FAAO, of Elite Eye Care, with locations in Iowa, notes his 19-year-old daughter tried the contact lenses during her break from college, and reported they were much more comfortable at the end of the day than the contact lenses she had been wearing:

“She [his daughter] told me she didn’t realize how dry her eyes had been at the end of the day with her other contact lenses until she wore the MyDay Energys contact lenses,” he explains. “I think this is true for a lot of patients. They don’t realize the extent of the dryness or discomfort they’ve been experiencing until they experience something better.”

“Wow” factor

Michael Shaheen of Hills & Dales Vision in Canton, Ohio, explains that MyDay Energys offers patients a “wow” factor, given what they’re designed for:

“For the most part, contact lenses are contact lenses, and patients don’t get too excited about them,” he continues. “But this lens is addressing an issue that a lot of people experience, so patients are excited that a contact lens is available to solve the issue via the physical and visual comfort it provides.”

Offer the option

Dr. Sheehan recommends optometrists offer these contact lenses as an option to every patient because, “There is likely a large population of patients who would be interested in trying them.”

Indeed. A total of 85% of Americans own a smartphone, according to Pew Research Center.

Dr. Huisman adds, “We’ve had really good results with these lenses in kids and teens, all the way to older patients.” OM