Multifocal contact lenses can be a good choice for presbyopes, come in both soft and rigid gas permeable lens materials, and can be used for daily or extended wear. Alcon recently launched a new multifocal fitting process and doubled the number of multifocal contact lens training sessions it holds at their Experience Center. “By 2020, there will be roughly 1,800 presbyopes for each optometrist, yet only 13 percent of eyecare professionals are currently fitting multifocal contact lenses as a solution,” says Dr. Rick Weisbarth, Vice President of Professional Affairs of Alcon US Vision Care. To support ECPs, Alcon is taking training directly to the practitioners by increasing its Multifocal Fit Training Road Shows.
Alcon
DAILIES Total1 MultifocalContact Lenses
(800) 875-3001 | alcon.com
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocalwith Lacreon
(800) 874-5278 | www.jnjvisionpro.com
Bausch + Lomb
ULTRA Contact Lenses with MoistureSeal for Presbyopia
(800) 828-9030 | bausch.com/ecp
CooperVision
Clariti 1 day multifocal
(800) 341-2020 | coopervision.com/practitioner
Visioneering Technologies
NaturalVue Multifocal 1 Daycontact lenses now in plus powers: plano to +4.00 to -12.25 in 0.25D steps
(844) 884-5367 | vtivision.com
Smart Ways to Sell Multifocal Contact Lenses
Dr. Gina Wesley Complete Eye Care of Medina, MEDINA, MN
I’m an avid road cyclist and mountain biker and my go-to lens is Oakley’s Prizm Road. It offers a good balance between contrast enhancement and brightness protection. Oakley’s lens along with some version of a Transitions lens are our most popular lenses for cycling. When we’re talking to a patient we get their Rx first but then we ask enough questions to figure out what frame and lens will work. We ask questions like: “What type of riding are you going to do? Where do you live? What are conditions like? Are you going to do night riding?” Before we prescribe eyewear, we need to understand the person first and their needs. If you understand the sport and participate in it, then they’ll generally take your advice.
Dr. Stephanie Woo HAVASU EYE CENTER, LAKE HAVASU, AZ
What defines a cycling lens is the color: a road biker needs a darker lens because they are dealing with mid-light to sunny whereas in the woods they’ll need a lighter lens because they are dealing with mid-light to flat light. We deal with both and determine the lens color by looking at pupil size. We keep it in the middle so the pupil can react quicker. From a sporting perspective, I like Rudy Project because of the design of their lenses and the colors. They work with me to design a lens for my patients. When I’m ordering I may ask them to customize a brown/red combination and ask their opinion about it. As a cyclist, it’s a lot easier for me to recommend a cycling lens. When a person comes in and asks for a lens for biking, I’ll have them try on different frames and then pick out a lens for it. I’m surrounded by mountains, so I’ll take them outside to see how the lens works and there’s a wow factor every time.