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Simple Solution to Help Identify Contact Lenses
BY
JEFFREY A. MYERS, OD, FAAO
You know the scenario. A new patient is wearing
contact lenses, but has no clue what brand of lenses they are, let alone the power
or base curve. He doesn't remember his former practitionertioner's
name, or you can't reach the practitioner by phone.
Or maybe the patient remembers that the lenses are "torqued."
Or he thinks he is wearing Acuvue lenses made by Bausch & Lomb. Or maybe you
fit the patient with toric lenses and his vision has decreased to 20/40 on the first
follow-up visit, though the patient was 20/20– at dispensing — might
the lenses be switched? How do you know?
A Simple Suggestion
Wouldn't it be simpler in such circumstances if all contact lenses
had markings that would identify the lens brand, base curve and power right on the
lens? These markings would be visible at biomicroscopic examination, but invisible
to the patient. The major manufacturers have put a variety of markings on their
lenses for years, so we know it's possible from a technical standpoint. Most of
these markings are helpful in identifying rotation, base curve or eversion. Some
markings on current lenses are easily visible to patients, sometimes by design,
and patients don't complain about the markings in terms of comfort or visual disturbance.
Possible Solutions
A series of markings near the edge of the contact lens, using
a predetermined abbreviation for the lens brand, the last digit of the base curve
(presuming most base curves begin with 8 for soft lenses and with 7 for GP lenses)
followed by the power, would be a tremendous help in identifying unknown contact
lenses. If the lens exists only in one base curve, the base curve digit could be
removed. It seems that a marking like "AA 3 –3.75" or "O2O –2.25" would
be enough to identify the lens.
For those lenses that come in more than one diameter or for GP
contact lenses, the diameter could follow the power. For example, the marking "B4
45 +1.00 94" could easily identify a GP lens in Boston 4 material, 7.45mm base
curve, +1.00D power and 9.4mm diameter.
Or we could use a coding system to identify virtually all contact
lens brands with a unique one- to four-character alphanumeric code. Most practitioners
use some sort of shorthand in their records already. These codes could become standard
much like the identifying laser marks of a progressive spectacle lens. The CLMA
could produce an identifying pamphlet similar to what the Optical Laboratories Association
does or it could appear in the Contact Lenses & Solutions Summary
or in Tyler's Quarterly.
Benefits for All
Such markings on lenses would help manufacturers retain patients
who already wear their lenses, but then seek care from another practitioner who
is unable to identify the lens and simply refits the patient to a competitor's lens.
In such cases, the manufacturer loses a patient and the patient has to pay for a
refitting to a lens that may be comparable or even inferior, simply because the
examiner couldn't identify the original lens.
Today, we wouldn't dream of a frame without its identifying box
measurement. We cannot imagine a PAL spectacle lens without the brand and power
mark. Isn't it time that all contact lenses were identified in a way that made it
easier to serve our patients in the best way possible?
I challenge contact lens manufacturers to make this a reality.
Understandably, it will take time and preparation, but it can happen — and
it will be a great benefit to manufacturers, practitioners and patients.
Dr. Myers owns a private
practice in Canal Winchester, OH, and is a clinical assistant professor at The Ohio
State University College of Optometry.
Contact Lens Spectrum, Issue: December 2006