editor's perspective

We've Got CLASS

BY JOSEPH T. BARR, OD, MS, EDITOR
JULY 1998

Since we see so many different types of patients in our clinic -- spherical disposable, keratoconus, cosmetic, prosthetic, bifocal, toric, low vision, international, local, young and old patients -- we often need to look up lens brand names and parameter availability. I remember when we had only Bausch & Lomb spin cast, Hydrocurve, Naturvue and Aquaflex lenses. Those were the days of remembering every diameter, base curve, alleged center thickness and material for all of the lenses. Soon after that, we began to need listings.

We used to refer to the listings that Neal Bailey would use to make tables in Contact Lens Forum. Then, out of necessity about 25 years ago, Paul White, O.D., and Clifford Scott, O.D., compiled their own listing of all the available lenses and solutions for use in their practices, and they shared their information with others as a service to the professions.

For about the past 10 years, Contact Lens Spectrum has published this summary as a supplement that currently appears annually, cosponsored by industry giants like Bausch & Lomb, CIBA Vision and now Vistakon. I wouldn't be able to practice or teach without it. I use it to find out which lens base curves, cylinder axes and cylinder and spherical powers are available. I use it to teach materials, solutions and solution preservatives to students. I use it to look up Dks, bifocal lenses and brand names I've forgotten. Brand names I've forgotten? I use it to look up cosmetic lens listings, pediatric aphakic lens availability, bifocal designs and add powers.

Sure, there are other listings out there. You can pay for them on a quarterly basis, you can rip them out of another publication, or you can find them in pages and pages of other stuff. But if you want a free, easy-to-use directory of available lenses, use the Contact Lenses and Solutions Summary. Put one on your examination table, your technician's desk and your bookshelf; then ask us for more. It's a great tool. It's free. Use it!