Contact Lens Safety Month: Discuss proper lens handling, care with patients
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October is Contact Lens Safety Month, a time to educate the public about proper use and care of both prescription and cosmetic contact lenses, according to Prevent Blindness.
“For many people, contact lenses can be a great alternative for eyeglasses,” Jeff Todd, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “By diligently following the guidance of an eye care professional, contact lens users can maintain healthy eyes and clear vision today and for years to come.”
With Halloween season in full swing, it is particularly important that patients are aware of contact lens safety, as many people use decorative or cosmetic lenses as part of their costumes. Prevent Blindness advises eye care providers to discuss safe handling and care with patients to prevent infections and other problems.
In recognition of Contact Lens Safety Month, Healio has rounded up our most recent stories about contact lens research and ways to ensure patients have the best experience with lenses.
VIDEO: Report shows patients expect their doctors to initiate contact lens discussion
Many patients are interested in contact lenses but wait for their provider to bring them up, according to a clinician speaking at Optometry’s Meeting about a recent Contact Lens Institute report.
“One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning that almost half of our patients are interested in contact lenses, but one of the biggest reasons why they are not actually getting contact lenses or talking about their interest is because they want the doctor to bring it up,” Shelby Brogdon, OD, a 2024 Contact Lens Institute Visionary who practices at McFarland Eye Care in Little Rock, Arkansas, said in this Healio video perspective. Watch here.
AOA offers resource on updated Eyeglass Rule
The American Optometric Association has provided a resource of frequently asked questions and other important details about the updated Eyeglass Rule, which goes into effect Sept. 24.
The updated rule, also known as the Ophthalmic Practice Rules, will require optometrists to obtain patient confirmation that they received their eyeglass prescription during their appointment. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that the prescription must be given to a patient before promoting sales of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Read more.
VIDEO: Retaining new contact lens wearers is a team effort
From the front desk to the dispensary, eye care practice staff should work together to support patients as they embark on contact lens wear, optician Jennifer Seymour Brusven said at Vision Expo West.
“It really should be a team effort with everybody, so the patient understands that the time they’re given is incredibly important and can span from the time that they walk in until they leave,” she said. Watch here.
VIDEO: Begin multifocal contact lens fitting with good refraction
Successful multifocal contact lens fitting starts with a good refraction, an industry executive said here at Optometry’s Meeting.
Half of presbyopic contact lens wearers drop out within a few years of experiencing presbyopia, Kurt Moody, OD, FAAO, director of North America professional education at Johnson & Johnson Vision in Jacksonville, Florida, said in this Healio video. Watch here.
Ocular thermography measurements can predict discomfort in soft contact lens wearers
Thermal cooling rate and noninvasive tear breakup time significantly predicted contact lens-induced dry eye, according to a study published in Optometry and Vision Science.
These findings suggest that ocular thermography may be an effective tool for measuring contact lens discomfort in patients, according to researchers. Read more.
Discrepancies in clinical trial patient assessments a hurdle in contact lens comparisons
Lack of standardization in comfort and safety assessments makes it difficult to compare silicone hydrogel and hydrogel contact lenses, according to a recent review.
In a systematic review published in both Optometry & Vision Science and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, researchers examined several databases to identify randomized clinical trials that compared the comfort and safety of silicone hydrogel and hydrogel soft contact lenses. Seven studies met the eligibility criteria and included a total of 1,371 participants (average age, 20.7-33 years; 55%-75% women) with a median of 120 participants per trial. Read more.
Reference:
- Prevent Blindness urges public to keep eyes healthy while using contacts. https://preventblindness.org/contact-lens-safety-month-2024/. Published Sept. 26, 2024. Accessed Oct. 3, 2024.
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