contact lens management
Lens Goes Beyond Dry Eye
Single-use lens offers four benefits that can
help an array of patients.
BRAD
RIPPS, O.D.
Initially,
I expected Vistakon's 1-Day Acuvue Moist daily disposable contact lens (CL) to be
a niche product for my CL patients who reported dry eye and/or end-of-the-day discomfort.
While these patients have indeed informed me of their relief from these ailments
since using this CL, I have discovered that patients who do not have these maladies
can benefit from it as well. Here, I will discuss the four primary features and
how they aid different types of patients.
|
 |
|
1-Day
Acuvue Moist |
LENS POWERS:
-0.50D to -6.00D (in 0.25 steps); -6.50D to
-12.00D (in 0.50 steps); +0.50D to +6.00D (in 0.25 steps).
MATERIAL: Etafilcon A
DIAMETER: 14.2mm
COST: TBD |
1. Lacreon technology
This patented technology embeds a water-holding
ingredient, similar to that found in natural tears, into the CL material. The lens
material then locks in the moisture to make the lens more comfortable throughout
the day. The results: Many patients who switch to this CL report they no longer
have to remove their lenses as soon as they come home from work. In fact, many of
these patients say they are able to wear their 1-Day Acuvue Moist daily disposable
CLs until 8:00 pm and later. One young woman who made the switch from another brand
of single-use lenses actually presented to my practice without an appointment just
to tell me what a huge improvement in dryness and end-of-the-day comfort the new
lenses had made.
Also, many patients have told me they've
been able to cut back on or eliminate rewetting drops as a result of their switch
to this CL. This outcome has allowed these patients to save money and an extra step
in ensuring comfortable CL wear.
Finally, Lacreon technology has enabled
me to preclude several of my adult patients who previously complained of dryness
from becoming CL dropouts. In fact, about 40% of my patients wear daily disposable
lenses, and I truly believe this number would be higher if this technology was made
available in daily toric and bifocal options.
2. UV-A and UV-B block
The 1-Day Acuvue Moist daily disposable CL blocks
82% of Ultraviolet-A (UV-A) and 97% of Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, allowing
those who enjoy the outdoors to feel confident their eyes are protected. This is
important, as studies have shown ultraviolet radiation to be associated with age-related
cataract, pterygium, skin cancer around the eye, photokeratitis and corneal degenerative
changes. It may also contribute to age-related macular degeneration.
3. Ocular allergy relief
CL wearers who have seasonal allergies have aggravated
eyes that over-secrete mucus and the lysozyme protein deposits typically seen on
contact lenses. The run-of-the-mill CL absorbs these byproducts, which can lead
to the increased dryness and discomfort that typically forces these patients to
be very dependent on rewetting drops or to cease wearing CLs altogether.
The 1-Day Acuvue Moist daily disposable
CLs, which have been FDA-approved for use in these patients, provide improved comfort
for two out of three patients who experience the mild discomfort and itching associated
with allergies during CL wear when compared with lenses replaced at intervals of
greater than two weeks, according to Vistakon Clinical Research.
4. Safety
Because these new daily disposable CLs are used
only once, CL-induced infections, such as corneal ulcers, are greatly reduced. Young
adult CL-wearers (ages 18 and younger) tend to be less compliant with the regular
CL care regimen than adults, making them susceptible to infection, so I fit single-use lenses exclusively on this
population.
In addition, because many of my young
adult patients have active lifestyles, they tell me they appreciate a CL that requires
no care, no storage case and prevents the risk of using the wrong care solution
or running out of solution. As a category, single-use lenses are my preference for
this group due to their safety and convenience.
Since discovering the multiple uses
of the 1-Day Acuvue Moist daily disposable CL, I've asked many of my patients to
try it. The results: improved comfort, decreased dryness, alleviation of the symptoms
associated with ocular allergy, fewer CL-related infections and a renewed sense
of faith in an important ocular medical device.
DR. RIPPS IS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE
IN LAKE HOPATCONG, N.J. HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS. CONTACT
HIM AT (973) 663 -0800, OR SEND E-MAIL TO DRRIPPS@MAC.COM.
Optometric Management, Issue: January 2007