A VSP VISION CARE survey reveals that by the time a child reaches 17, they will have spent over 50,000 hours (a third of their life) on a smartphone or tablet. Schools are even moving from standard paper books to tablets, so the amount of time spent by children on such devices could leave them vulnerable to digital eye strain. Parents should be aware that there are several lens products available to alleviate it.
Before he prescribes a lens, Dr. Gary Morgan says he asks some pertinent questions. Depending on how the patient answers, he spends some time educating them on the advantages of blue light filtering lenses.
Your practice could sell more blue light lenses if you take the time to educate patients and ask them the right questions.
KODAK Total Blue from Signet Armorlite
(800) 759-4630, signetarmorlite.com
BluTech outdoor polarized lenses from BluTech
(800) 258-5902, blutechlenses.com
ZEISS Digital Lens from Carl Zeiss Vision
(800) 358-8258, zeiss.com
Eyezen+ 0 lenses from Essilor
(800) 377-4567, essilorusa.com
Clear Blue Filter Lens from Vision-Ease Lens
(800) 328-3449 visionease.com
BluTech Eyewear “Paige Turner” with Ultra indoor lenses in polycarbonate from ClearVision Optical
cvoptical.com
TechShield Blue from VSP Optics Group
opticsinfo@vsp.com www.techshieldblue.com
Havok Computer Eyewear with GUNNAR patented iAmp lens technology from GUNNAR Optiks
(888) 468-6270, gunnar.com
Smart Ways to Sell Digital Eye Strain Products
Dr. Gary Morgan
Eye Tech Eye Associates, Peoria, AZ
I’ve been prescribing blue light filtering lenses since their inception. I ask every patient about time spent on digital devices. For a majority it’s long hours. My next question is: “Do your eyes feel tired? Do they burn, tear, or blur after looking at a screen for two or more hours?” Most have at least one symptom. I explain why, adding that if we filter out some of the blue light coming off the screen it helps relieve symptoms. I find patients are receptive and quite willing to take my recommendation. The three I stick with are VSP’s TechShield, Kodak’s Total Blue and BluTech’s in poly or the original.
Dr. Steven Cantrell
Cantrell Eye Care, Webster Groves, MO
All screens have LED backlight; even overhead lighting can cause eye strain. Exposure to high energy visible blue light can cause headaches, insomnia, fatigue and seizures. BluTech is exquisite as an indoor, everyday lens or an outdoor sunglass lens. I work with pediatric patients who have photosensitive epilepsy, where light can trigger seizures. I prescribe gas permeable contacts or soft contacts custom-tinted in our lab. I also recommend BluTech lenses in poly with an outdoor filter; these reduce light sensitivity and seizures. Anyone with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration or cataracts should wear a BluTech lens indoors to shield the retina from toxic blue light.