because the lens settles and aligns very
quickly, usually within one minute,
thus reducing chair time and the need
for further progress evaluations.”
Giroux points to another eye health
concern: presbyopia. With Canada’s
significant aging population, this is an
issue ECPs are facing.
“This translates to a rapid
decrease in the number of contact-lens
wearers and a correspondingly large
increase in the number of spectacle
wearers. Unsurprisingly, this group of
over-40 contact lens wearing patients
experiences the largest drop-out
rate, mainly due to the fact that their
existing contact lenses no longer meet
their lifestyle and vision needs.”
Giroux
says
the
current
marketplace has a limited selection
of silicone hydrogel multifocal lenses
available to patients.
“Clariti 1Day Multifocal is
the world’s first daily disposable
silicone hydrogel multifocal. As such,
it offers presbyopic patients great
vision in the healthiest lens material
and the safest wearing modality.
They can wear a fresh pair of lenses
every day, or whenever they choose to
wear contact lenses, that will provide
natural near, intermediate and distance
vision, without the fuss of cleaning and
storing their lenses,” Giroux said.
Clariti Multifocal offers patients a
reusable silicone hydrogel multifocal,
combining the features and benefits
of Clariti lenses with the groundbreaking Clariti 1Day Multifocal
optical design.
Mayer notes that while the
technology for fitting soft contact
lenses has not changed drastically
over the years, the technology for
measuring the properties of contact
lenses has changed.
“One of these properties is known
as coefficient of friction (CoF),”
explains Mayer. “CoF is the ratio
of frictional force acting between
two surfaces as one of those surfaces
moves over the other one - such as
the lid blinking over the contact lens
surface. A lower coefficient of friction
means there is very little resistant for
the lid to travel across the lens. New
contact lens materials that incorporate
lacreaon and hydraclear technologies
lower the coefficient of friction
providing a more lubricious surface,
potentially improving end of day lens
comfort for the patient.”
According to Leroux, silicone
hydrogel has been the most widely
prescribed contact lens material
largely due to its higher oxygen
transmissibility, which contributes to
eye health.
“One downside of silicone
hydrogels is it is a stiffer material
than traditional hydrogels and it
is hydrophobic, repelling water,”
Leroux said. “Clariti lenses solve
these problems with a low (0.5
MPa) modulus, high water content
(56 per cent) and AquaGen nonsurface
treatment
technology
which makes the lenses
hydrophilic, attracting
water molecules to
the lens surface
and
providing
continuous
“wettability.”
What hasn’t
changed is the
vital role of
ECP’s
in
providing
patient
care and
education
OPTICAL PRISM | DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT | DECEMBER 2013
11
about contact lens options. Follow-up
patient care is the best way for ECPs
to guarantee customer satisfaction,
building that relationship of trust.
“It is up do the ECP how often to
schedule regular follow up. However
an annual comprehensive eye exam
and lens evaluation is recommended
for most patients wearing contact
lenses,” Mayers said.
It comes down to listening to
what patients want and helping them
make the right choice.
“With today’s soft contact lens
technology, meeting and exceeding
patient needs has never been easier,”
Mayers said. “Start the c ??fW'6F??? ( ??(
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