CONTACT LENSES
Contact COMPLAINTS?
ECPs share 6 of the most common contact lens gripes + how they win over wearers by resolving their issues
BY STEPHANIE K. DE LONG
If your practice offers contact lenses, you have probably heard it all. To find out about some common gripes (and solutions), we spoke with three eyecare professionals from decidedly different sectors of the optical world.
Jeremy Ciano, O.D., owner of RevolutionEYES in Carmel, IN, has always been active in sports vision—from working with the Miami Dolphins to serving as the optometrist of the [Indianapolis] Colts Kids Club.
Chet Steinmetz, O.D., is in independent practice as owner of Visual Effects Optical, located in a boutique-filled district near Chicago’s Lincoln Park.
Tanya Ngo is a medical technician and contact lens consultant at Lenhardt Optometric Group in Fullerton, CA.
Here’s what they have to say about some of the issues they face with different kinds of wearers and how they resolve them.
GRIPE #1: “I Don’t Want to ‘Feel’ My Contacts”
Most patients don’t want to be aware of their contact lenses. And that can be a problem. I tell them I will do whatever it takes to give them their best attainable wearing experience. Most things come with compromises, including contact lenses. Not every aspect can be addressed to perfection. The key is setting reasonable expectations beforehand.
—Dr. Steinmetz
GRIPE #2: “The Routine Is a Hassle”
No question that single-use dailies have saved contact lenses, but adding them to the morning routine can be a lot for some people. I can’t really help there. Convenience is up to the patient.
—Dr. Steinmetz
GRIPE #3: “My Contacts Get Blurry”
I tell baseball players to close their eyes and visualize their next at-bat when in the on-deck circle. Focus mentally on that at-bat, where they are going to hit the ball, and specifically on their swing. Keeping the eyes closed while visualizing helps concentration, but it also fully hydrates the contacts so that when it’s their time to bat, they are focused, hydrated, and both physically and mentally ready!
—Dr. Ciano
A TORIC TALE…A FEAR OF FITTING
This is one of my favorite fitting stories—about a patient going from fear to amazement:
Daniel came in after his exam and told me, “So, the doc says I’ve got ‘stigmatism. Am I gonna be OK? Should I change my diet?”
THE PLAGUE
I couldn’t help chuckling. After all, he isn’t the first patient to hear the word “astigmatism” and liken it to the plague. I explained that lots of people have astigmatism, and it’s merely an indication of how spherical your eyeball is. I continued to explain that his clarity of vision is affected by the way light is refracted, which depends on the shape of his eye.
He was hesitant to try the new toric contact lenses. When I told him, “It’s like the difference between standard and HDTV,” his ears perked up, so I knew I had his attention.
HIGH FIVES
We tried the lenses on him and chatted about one side being thicker and heavier so that it rotates into place. High fives were exchanged for inserting them in one try.
To his amazement, he was immediately reading the 20/15 line, no problem, and left with the new contacts on trial for a week.
TREE LEAVES
Not five minutes after he walked out the door, he came rushing back red-faced and out of breath. “You know how in the cartoons they draw those star-shaped things on cars to show they’re shiny? I can see them! And there are leaves on those trees—since when?!”
Needless to say, that was a home run with Daniel. He never visits without reminding us how thankful he is for his new eagle eyes.
—Tanya Ngo, medical technician and contact lens consultant at Lenhardt Optometric Group in Fullerton, CA
GRIPE #4: “Contacts Are Uncomfortable in Rough Weather”
It was tough to play in bad weather and rough conditions before daily disposables. Now, we almost always have our athletes wearing them. If they are playing in the elements, they can always put in a fresh pair. I go as far as telling players, “If you’re having a bad game, put in a new fresh pair at halftime. It will give you a fresh start so you can have a better second half!”
—Dr.Ciano
GRIPE #5: “My Contacts Get Dry When I Play Sports”
It’s a real problem in sports, especially if you want to stare down the competition. I often joke with baseball players that it is OK to stare down the pitcher to get that psychological edge, but you must blink frequently so your contacts don’t dry out at that critical at-bat.
—Dr. Ciano
GRIPE #6: “My Torics Aren’t as Comfortable Now That I’m Older”
The trifecta of complaints—the slight astigmat not wearing a toric, the intermittent blur with dryness, and the presbyope—they all come into play for some patients. The solutions? We have toric lenses, we have better dry-eye treatments, and we have multifocal lenses. You have to be realistic, though. There will always be some patients who find it too much of a bother to fix these things.
—Dr. Steinmetz
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