ask the labs
By Joseph L. Bruneni

WHAT IS FAIR?

Q We've had a number of patients who have ordered glasses with computer lenses to solve their Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) problems. Some of them complain about having to pay personally for glasses they use only at work. Do you know if any employers are picking up the tab for such work-related glasses?

A Eyecare and glasses can be expensive. If the care and/or the glasses are necessitated by work at a computer, it is reasonable to expect them to be covered by the employer.

Even when employers provide general vision care benefits, the computer user often requires glasses that can not be worn for everyday needs (such as variable focus lenses). It's not appropriate to expect employees to use their general vision care benefits to obtain work-related glasses.

There are no laws or regulations that mandate companies provide special eye care to employees who use computers. It is fair for an employer to provide for computer eyecare and glasses IF the care and/or glasses are directly related to computer use and are not routine eyecare or glasses for everyday visual needs.

--Dr. Ergo (also known as James Sheedy, Ph.D.), The Ohio State University College of Optometry

TELL US MORE ABOUT A NEW LENS

Q Can you please tell us more about the new Definity™ progressive lens?

--Helen K. Beath, Lakeway Vision Associates

A The manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care's Spectacle Lens Group, recently released additional information on this new lens. As we described in the June issue, this progressive features a "dual add" technology with some progressive curves on the front surface and some on the backside.

The makers claim less peripheral distortion and visual swim as well as a wider viewing area by splitting the progressive curves between both front and back surfaces. Peaks of peripheral distortion on the front and back of the lens are at different points, preventing them from being added together. The company reports that it plans to begin promoting this lens to consumers in print and TV advertising soon, so you can anticipate getting questions from your presbyopic patients.

Currently, the Definity lens is only available in 20 percent of the country, which includes Florida and a few major cities including New York, Houston, Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Chicago.

The lenses are made in one plant in Roanoke, Va. But, the company's representatives note that J&J is going all out to expand production to cover all of the United States.

Helping Our Friend the Dentist

Q We have a dentist patient who is asking about special lenses to protect him from X-ray exposure. Our lab didn't seem to know that such a thing was available. Can you help?

A Schott makes a special SF-6 leaded glass in 1.80 index for X-ray and radiation protection. This lens provides valuable protection from scattered radiation in areas such as electro physiology, orthopedic surgery, radiology, catheterization lab, urologic procedures, and veterinarians. Your lab can get these glass lenses from X-CEL in semi-finished single vision or laminated single vision and multifocal form. This leaded glass is a softer glass and is prone to scratching, unlike other glass lenses. The lenses cannot be chemically tempered or air hardened in traditional ophthalmic equipment. They can be heat tempered at a lower temperature.

Most ophthalmic heat tempering units do not have adjustable temperature capabilities. Have your patient sign a waiver noting they understand their lenses are not tempered.

If you have a question you'd like to have answered in Ask the Labs, send it to Joseph L. Bruneni. Fax: 310-533-8165. Phone: 310-533-4975. E-mail: joe@bruneni.com. Or mail questions to: Vision Consultants, 2908 Oregon Court, #I-2, Torrance, CA 90503. An archive of past Ask the Labs columns can be found on the Eyecare Business Website at www.eyecarebiz.com.