Close Up On Contacts

Contact Lens Stretching

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Stretching contact lens wear—also known as "over wear"—can adversely affect eye health in many ways, from discomfort to infection. A recent study conducted by Vistakon found that more than half of surveyed frequent replacement contact lens wearers said that they are not compliant with their replacement schedule.

"The most surprising finding from this research is the percentage of patients who admitted to stretching replacement to eight weeks or more," comments Sheila Hickson-Curran, FAAO and director of medical affairs, Vistakon.

"Monthly lens wearers were about five times more likely as two-week wearers to go to eight weeks or greater before changing their lenses," she adds.

In addition, she notes that ECPs need to reinforce the importance of replacement compliance and how over wear can impact lens comfort, vision performance, and eye health.

To achieve this goal, ECPs can use several techniques and tools.

EXAMPLES THAT EXPLAIN

Drew C. Dayton, OD, owner of Hometown Family Eyecare in Middleton, Idaho, uses many resources to increase compliance.

For example, his slit lamp camera shows patients in real time what's going on with their lenses. "Then I use the Efron grading scale to illustrate how eyes are being impacted as a result of over wear and compare them to a normal standard," he says.

Dayton also reinforces that "fresher is better" with bananas.

"When I sense push back from a patient, I excuse myself and come back with a fresh banana, a spotted one, and an ugly black one. I lay them on the table and ask, ‘Which of these do you want for lunch today?’"

Sandra Spender, OD, PA, an independent optometrist at Costco in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., offers another recognizable metaphor: a science experiment on an eye's immunity being able to fight off dangerous microbes. "One example I use to illustrate this point is washing dishes. If we only cleaned off 70 percent of the food off our dishes and used them the next day, we wouldn't find it too appealing."

SAVVY STAFF

A trained, educated staff is the final key to stressing compliance. Spender says her staffers are educated like patients and they are made aware of legal and moral guidelines.

Hickson-Curran says patients may be more honest with a technician than with a doctor, in a setting away from the white-coat effect. She adds, "Ask patients, ‘Does a new lens feel better?’ and they always say yes. There's their proof and reward." EB