CLToday Fitting Tip of the Month
January, 2008
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Carla Mack and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 14,000 readers in 74 countries.
Managing Contact Lens Associated Dryness
Over 40% of discontinued contact lens wearers cite dry eyes as the reason they quit. Nearly 40% of current contact lens wearers say that they may have dry eyes with wear.
In order to keep the 40% of your current contact lens patients with dryness from discontinuing, ask these probing questions of all your contact lens patients:
“What time do you typically put your contact lenses in and take them out each day?”
(Compute: Hours of Wear)
“What time do your lenses typically become dry or uncomfortable?”
(Compute: Removal minus Uncomfortable = Uncomfortable Hours of Wear)
If the Uncomfortable Hours of Wear is greater than 1½ hours, this patient could benefit from active management of their contact lens related dry eyes. Employ these strategies:
1. Change Lens Material
Update hydrogel lens material to a silicone hydrogel. Many studies have shown a drop in contact lens related dryness after refitting with silicone hydrogels. You have many material choices.
2. Change Lens Care System
Keep lens care system low in preservatives. Hydrogen peroxide systems can help reduce contact lens related dryness. Make sure the patient receives complete usage instructions to avoid in-eye dosing of peroxide. Supply these patients with a bottle of saline as well.
Robin L. Chalmers, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Atlanta, GA
Offer Comfort and Convenience to More Types of Patients
Athletes, teens, part-time wearers, and those who are solution-sensitive, suffer from allergies or frequently travel are all great
1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand Contact Lens candidates. All these patient types and more can benefit from the long lasting comfort of LACREON™ technology, the convenience of fresh lenses every day and the protection of Class II UV blocking.* Improve the quality of life for more patients by prescribing
1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand. To learn more, go to:
*Important Product and UV Information | Important Safety Information
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Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
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