SynergEyes Sub Articles

Success Strategies for Fitting CLs with Presbyopia and Astigmatism

By Erin C. Sullivan, OD

July 15, 2015

Sixth article in the Practice Differentiation Series

SYNOPSIS

The onset of presbyopia, with the presence of astigmatism, is challenging for patients who want to remain in CLs. Specialty CLs allow you to solve problems and delight hard-to-fit patients. Part of the Practice Differentiation series.

ACTION POINTS

SOLVE PROBLEMS WITH SPECIALTY CLS. Embrace difficult challenges like presbyopes and astigmats who want to wear CLs
ENHANCE YOUR FITTING SKILLS. Measure accurately, and submit data digitally for a precise fit.
ENCOURAGE REFERRALS. Delighted patients are powerful referral agents.

Nobody wants to be reminded that they are getting older—and patients undergoing routine eye exams are no exception.

Unfortunately, most optometrists are faced with having this discussion with a number of their patients in their practices every day and, historically, it has been particularly challenging when contact lens wearers just entering the onset of presbyopia (typically those in their mid-forties or early-fifties) are sitting in the exam chair.

I practice in a multidisciplinary practice with ophthalmologists, so I see a lot of older patients, including those who have just undergone cataract surgery. Presbyopia strikes everyone, and it can be very traumatizing, especially for those who have had perfect vision up until that point in their lives.

More than 80 percent of the patients I see are either emerging or established presbyopes. Until recently, for those patients who prefer contact lenses over eyeglasses, the options have been limited, particularly for those with astigmatism, in addition to presbyopia. Even presbyopes with mild astigmatism (less than 0.75D), who do not require toric lenses, can experience declining visual acuity and contrast sensitivity when they transition to soft multifocal contact lenses.

About SynergEyes…

SynergEyes® is a world leader in the specialty contact lens market, focused on developing and delivering advanced-technology, high-performance vision products that transform vision for patients with astigmatism, presbyopia and irregular cornea conditions. The company offers a range of hybrid contact lenses that promote eye health while providing GP vision and soft-lens comfort.

SynergEyes is focused exclusively on the leading independent eye care professionals and offers unique opportunities for increased patient satisfaction, practice differentiation and a recurring revenue stream. Products include Duette® and Duette® Progressive for astigmatism and presbyopia, and UltraHealth® and UltraHealth FC for irregular corneas, as well as SynergEyes A, MF, KC, and PS and ClearKone®.

More information is available at: www.synergeyes.com/professional

In addition, soft multifocals in general have proved comfortable and convenient, but not always sufficient optically. Finally, some contact lens-wearing and astigmatic presbyopic patients have opted for distance monovision contact lenses or prescription reading glasses, but they often grow frustrated by their dependence on spectacles.

The advent of hybrid contact lens designs such as the Duette Progressive multifocal from SynergEyes, however, has been a “game-changer” for these patients, especially those with astigmatism. The Duette Progressive’s gas permeable optics and lens design correct for corneal astigmatism while its soft “skirt” enables easier fitting and improved patient comfort. Disposable torics have come a long way, and optometrists have been fitting gas permeables for decades, but everyone wants the comfort of soft lenses with the optics of gas permeables. In addition, the adaptation period to gas permeables is unacceptable to many patients, especially in our “immediate-results”-oriented culture. Hybrids, as the name infers, offer many good qualities of each modality.

The hybrid design gives everybody what they want, including the optometrist fitting them. Multifocal gas permeable contact lenses have traditionally required particularly precise fitting; if the optical center of the lens is even 1 mm off in its positioning, the wearer will end up looking through the wrong optical zone. With the hybrid Duette Progressive’s soft skirt, the lens almost fits itself and it doesn’t decenter much once it’s fitted. Although the fitting process for these lenses requires more detailed measurements on corneal topography or keratometry, SynergEyes’ empirical ordering system enables optometrists to submit patients’ prescription information and keratometry electronically. The lenses are available in 0.1 steps, allowing us to get fine-tuned on the base curves.

More than half of U.S. optometrists surveyed believe that successfully fitting more astigmatic presbyopes in contact lenses will have the most positive impact on their practice.1 A recent study also found that those who fit hybrid contact lenses, such as the Duette Progressive, are significantly more likely to feel they have a sound option for astigmatic and presbyopic patients. 2

Click HERE to view a video in which Dr. Sullivan describes fitting Duette Progressive contact lenses.

Click HERE for more information on Duette Progressive contact lenses.

Being able to successfully fit these challenging patients with a customized contact lens has enabled me to differentiate my practice from chain and online retailers, and has engendered increased satisfaction and loyalty among these patients.

I see hybrid contact lenses as a revenue- and practice-builder. I used to have so many astigmatic and presbyopic patients come to me and say, “I’ve always been told that I can’t wear contact lenses.” Now I can tell them they can, and they are so happy they send their friends and family to my practice. They show off how successful they are in contact lenses, and for me that’s a big deal. Not everyone has glaucoma or dry eye, but everyone turns 45—hopefully anyway.

References
1) SynergEyes data on file
2) SynergEyes data on file

Erin C. Sullivan, OD, is a staff optometrist at Ophthalmology Consultants in St. Louis, Mo. She graduated from Boston College and the University of Missouri-College of Optometry. She completed externships at the Veterans Administration Hospital-Kansas City, Southwest Medical Center and University Eye Center. Dr. Sullivan practices advanced primary clinical eyecare, contact lenses, and is involved in clinical trials. To contact her: eclearysullivan@gmail.com

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