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Effective spectacle lens prescribing can address anterior segment issues

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LAS VEGAS — Many anterior segment disorders also cause visual effects that can be neutralized with glasses, according to presenters here at International Vision Expo and Conference.

Ocular surface and corneal disease, pterygia, pingueculae, conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, cataracts and medication side effects can cause visual challenges such as absorption, scattering, contrast, glare, acuity and higher-order aberrations, practice consultant Peter Shaw-McMinn, OD, told attendees. Management of anterior segment disease should include the use of specific lens features.

Antireflective lenses increases transmission and contrast, according to co-presenter Pete Hanlin, LDO, ABOM, a member of Essilor's technical marketing team. "AR reduces glare, but also increases contrast sensitivity, or the ability to see contrast at night," he said. "I tell patients it helps them look better and see better at the same time."

Filters can block ultraviolet light and can also be photochromic or polarized. "Only two materials do not block UV: clear CR-39 and clear glass," Mr. Hanlin added.

He cautioned attendees that lenses that are AR-coated on the back will magnify the amount of UV coming from behind you, reflecting off the back of the lens and into your eyes. "UV exposure makes your eyes feel scratchy," he said.

"Crizal SunShield lenses by Essilor have an AR coating on the back of sun lenses that also blocks the reflection of UV light into the eye," Dr. Shaw-McMinn said. "No over-the-counter sunglasses have this on the back of the lenses; hence they are not providing maximum protection. A doctor who prescribes SunShield provides a huge benefit to the patient, protecting their eye and lids. I would not wear sun lenses without SunShield."

Aside from providing good medical eye care, "your practice is judged by how well your patients see," Mr. Hanlin noted. "A properly fitting progressive-addition lens has the most effect on patient satisfaction. An older-technology lens will work very well if fit properly. If the fit is off by 1 mm, the patient will lose 20% of the reading area of a +2 D add."

Disclosures:

Pete Hanlin, LDO, ABOM, is a member of Essilor's technical marketing team. Dr. Shaw-McMinn is a member of the Essilor Speaker's Bureau.