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Clinical pearls for aspheric, translating design fits
PHILADELPHIA – Centering the optics over the pupil is key to successful fitting of aspheric contact lenses, according to a presentation here at the PRIMARY CARE OPTOMETRY NEWS Symposium by PCON Editorial Board members Jennifer L. Smythe, OD, and Walter Choate, OD.
During a presentation on the nonsurgical options for managing presbyopia, Drs. Smythe and Choate discussed fitting tips for different types of contact lenses for presbyopia.
Dr. Smythe said that an aspheric lens should be considered too flat when it moves down and out with the blink, causing decreased distance acuity. The aspheric lens is too steep, she said, when the lens falls inferiorly.
Dr. Smythe said the ideal aspheric lens design features some posterior (to enhance distance vision) and some anterior aspheric (to avoid corneal molding). She said the lens should also be able to move well.
She also discussed translating designs. She said prism placement for these lenses should be at 90 D, and practitioners should consider offsetting this by 15 D nasally to induce nasal rotation of the segment.