readers' forum
The
Three Secrets of My GP Fitting Success
BY
JASON MORRIS, OD
The esteemed eyecare professionals who write
and speak about GP lenses have always made a strong case for me to fit GP lenses.
But like many practitioners, my fitting set sits collecting dust. I'm a common man. I still call them rigid lenses, I order them empirically and adjust
the fit with an old, yellowed fit card in hand. I like success and have some insecurity
about not exceeding my patient's expectations.
With my vanilla self-portrayal, you may be surprised that
I've fit 10 presbyopes with GP bifocal lenses in the past month.
Find the Right Tools
My first personal experience wearing rigid lenses was awful.
I've never forgotten my inept clinic partner jamming a misfit lens into my virgin
eye. This likely subconsciously contributed to my early lack-luster performance
as a rigid lens fitter. Until I found a GP partner who could design and fabricate
a lens in which I felt confident, I'm sure that my patients sensed my apprehension.
Finding the right GP partner is step one. If you send great K readings and a perfect
prescription, expect the lens to fit!
My home run GP bifocal lens is ABB Optical's Versare in Boston
XO (Bausch & Lomb). It's wet shipped and ready to go with a nice kit and
starter solution. I've simply found no other rigid lens that has the same impact
on my practice. Patients love the vision and find it worth the initial adaptation.
I love its simplicity. One of the uncomplicated, time-saving concepts
that Versare and ABB deliver is fit and power independence. I can change the power
of a lens without fear that my textbook fit will end up decentered.
Great GP lab partners like ABB Optical distill lens complexity
and deliver confidence, simplicity and success through their technology, products
and extras.
Choose the Right Patients
Step two to my GP success: I realize some comfort fitting
GPs by stacking my patient selection. By far, presbyopes represent the greatest
portion of my new fits. I approach the unstoppable march of short-armed (visually
speaking) patients into our practices with an honest, simple message: "Monovision
and soft bifocal lenses are both compromises and simply cannot compete with a rigid
lens's multifocal optics."
This demographic is highly motivated, demanding and has seemingly
less corneal sensitivity because of pride, age or years of soft lens wear. It's
a perfect storm, and these folks are by far the easiest group to coach through week
one.
Nix the Free Trial
I'm no expert fitter, but my best GP contact lens pearl —
and step three — is to take credit and charge for what you do. I believe that
charging for diagnostic fitting mentally motivates patients. You can say to a prospective
patient, "Mrs. Jones, this custom lens is designed just for you, which will translate
into better vision and the best possible comfort. The lenses are $400 but if you
aren't satisfied for some reason, you won't be stuck with something you can't wear.
It's a $50 minimum charge."
Defining Success
These may seem like shortcuts to old-school pros, but success
for me is a delighted patient (not 20/happy) at that week one follow-up.
Dr Morris is Director of
Business Development and Professional Services for ABB Optical and is in private
practice in Ontario, Canada.
Contact Lens Spectrum, Issue: October 2006