New Contact Lens Update From CORE
New Contact Lens Update From CORE Spotlights Presbyopic Patient Communications
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published Issue 91 of Contact Lens Update, which focuses on optimizing communication skills to help educate patients about contact lenses for presbyopia. “No one likes to be reminded that they are getting older, and the onset of presbyopia can be one of the first changes that makes someone aware of their age,” said Lyndon Jones, principal scientist at CORE. “Eyecare practitioners play a vital role in reassuring patients that although presbyopia affects everyone, there are safe and effective contact lens treatment options to reduce their need to wear spectacles. The latest issue of Contact Lens Update helps practitioners discuss this important topic with their patients.”
The bi-monthly publication is available at no charge by clicking here.
Shalu Pal, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, eye doctor and owner of The Yorkville Eye Institute in Canada, shares her clinical expertise on contact lenses for presbyopia in the issue’s opening editorial. Her comprehensive guide outlines practical tips for practitioners to incorporate every day, covering a proactive approach to early education, a personalized method to explain accommodative status, a detailed guide of the entire fitting process, and the best way to assess visual satisfaction.
Susan Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, Dipl AAO, and director of the contact lens service at First Sight Vision Care in the U.S., reminds colleagues of patient perspectives and concerns regarding presbyopia in this month’s feature article. She discusses the findings of a questionnaire and focus group that examined feelings about presbyopia and the most popular forms of vision correction in adults from ages 36 to 48.
This issue’s clinical insight is a patient handout from CORE that explains the basics of presbyopia and how different types of contact lens correction can be used to manage the condition. The full-color handout is available to download as a PDF and can be used as a helpful starting point for practitioners to explain the pros and cons of contact lens correction types, and to aid in identifying which option would best suit their patient’s lifestyle.
The conference highlight is contributed by Marc Vincent, MSc, Ph.D., an optometrist and head of professional affairs at CooperVision in France. His study examined the prescribing rate and satisfaction of 1,064 new and experienced contact lens wearers at 118 French eyecare practices. Presbyopes were fit with soft daily disposable or frequent-replacement multifocal contact lenses, who then rated overall comfort and satisfaction, ease of handling, and quality of vision upon completion of the trial period. The study also reported the percentage of patients choosing to continue with lens wear or their reasons for discontinuation.
CORE noted that, in addition to a complete archive of back issues, Contact Lens Update offers a resource library that provides no-cost professional tools, patient resources, images and video. It also houses complimentary technical training videos produced by International Association of Contact Lens Educators, plus an industry glossary.
The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision and Johnson & Johnson Vision.
