Performance Contact Lenses
Drivers Wanted

By Joseph T. Barr, O.D., M.S., Editor

As I was driving home pondering what I should write about this month, I was inspired by my recently tuned and lubed, comfortable, reliable 1990 BMW 325, which is still running well after more than 94,000 miles. It was a great buy at the beginning of the decade, and I expect to put at least another 94,000 miles on it before I'm done. Like my BMW, well-designed, clean rigid gas permeable contact lenses are also a great value.

Think about what RGPs can do for your patients. They're easy and convenient to care for. They're durable and they perform well. They're a healthy option for regular vision correction, and even for some limited extended wear. They provide great vision, even with large amounts of astigmatism.

For irregular corneas, rigid lenses are usually the treatment of choice, and orthokeratology is well received by many low myopes. Certainly aspheric multifocal RGPs are great for computer users, and well-prescribed alternating vision RGPs offer the best vision of all bifocals.

RGP wearers are loyal patients and likely to think of you as a specialist for prescribing them. Some practitioners would prefer they didn't last so long, but that's one reason they're such a good value. Too often, we don't encourage patients to keep spare pairs just in case their lenses get lost or damaged. I only used my spare tire once, but I'm glad it's in the trunk. The same applies to spare RGP contact lenses. And too many of these patients lack quality spectacles for those rare times when they need them.

One challenge with successful RGP wearers is getting them to return for regular care. Your recall system needs to be well-tuned. Annual check-ups and lens inspection for scratches, deposits and edge chips are essential. Polishing the lenses (kind of like an oil change or a tune-up) is a valuable service.

Some people consider the initial feeling associated with RGPs a hindrance. If comfort is your hang-up, then try fitting them after instilling a drop of proparacaine. I don't use it, but many practitioners like this approach and report that their patients do too.

RGPs today are made from better materials with better manufacturing processes, and corneal mapping systems have made them easier than ever to prescribe. Why not take RGPs for a test drive this month? CLS