CLToday Fitting Tip of the Month

April 2006

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week, CLToday® reaches more than 10,000 readers in 74 countries.

Talking to Patients About the Best Contact Lens Option
I often address patients' needs based on their main complaint and prescribe a lens that will meet that need. If a patient complains of dryness, I will specifically recommend a newer lens that offers better wettability. If a patient has vision problems related to uncorrected cylinder, I'll mention a toric lens. I continuously attempt to solve patients' problems with newer materials and designs that are healthier, more comfortable and offer better vision. Rarely do patients argue about price differences or fitting fees when they learn a healthier lens with the latest technology will directly address their biggest concerns.
 David Kading, O.D.,
Bellevue, Wash.
Offer Patients a Solution Before They Drop Out
Eye Care Professionals seeking to grow their practice should consider how contact lens dropouts diminish practice growth. There are 2.7 million contact lens dropouts annually, with more on the verge of dropping out because of contact lens dryness. What if you could offer patients a solution before they drop out of lens wear, not only keeping them in contact lenses but also in your practice? ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus, a new generation of silicone hydrogel, balances properties to meet the demands of contact lens wearers in environments that can make eyes feel tired and dry. ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses can revitalize your practice by offering patient satisfaction and practice growth.
--ADVERTISING
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
Access a reporting form for complications you've seen that were a result of contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescription at the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO's) Web site: http://www.arbo.org/arbo.asp?dt=R&doc=Complications. Complete and send the form online or print it out and fax it to (866) 886-6164.
 Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free T-shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.
CLToday Services: Subscribe; Change or Remove your e-mail address; submit news to news@cltoday.com; or, fax 1-215-643-3902.
Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins VisionCare Group.  ©2006 Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins VisionCare Group.