RGP insights

Fourteen Ways to a More Successful RGP Practice

BY EDWARD S. BENNETT, OD, MSED
May 1999

Members of the RGP Lens Institute (RGPLI) Advisory Panel and Practitioner Advisory Committee were e-mailed and asked what tools or gadgets they believed were most valuable in the fitting and follow-up care of RGP patients. The following provides the top 14 recommendations of these expert RGP fitters.

1  Use yellow wratten filters, available from Polymer Technology Corp., to enhance fluorescein patterns.

2  CLMA and RGPLI Videotapes are almost exclusively slit lamp images on the fitting and troubleshooting of RGP contact lenses. They are available from the CLMA (800-344-9060).

3  Many laboratories have spinner modification tools, which are excellent for polishing and repowering procedures without compromising contact lens optical quality.

4  Simple to use for edge and surface polishing procedures, polishing sponge modification tools are used in combination with either a suction cup or a spinner, and are available from most CLMA laboratories.

5  Portable modification units have become more economical and portable. The Versatool unit from Duffens (Denver, CO) is recommended.

6  Hand polishing kits are beneficial for polishing and removing surface deposits and are available from Polymer Technology and Eaton Medical Co.

7  A Sharpie marker is excellent for placing a dot on an RGP lens.

8  A Burton Lamp has always had value in evaluating RGP fluorescein patterns. It's especially beneficial in evaluating toric and keratoconic fits due to the large field of view.

9  Projection magnifiers are excellent for providing a magnified view of the surface, as well as both frontal and profile views of the edge.

10  7x and 10x handheld reticule magnifiers are beneficial in determining overall and optical zone diameter, peripheral curve width and blend, and surface quality.

11  When fitting RGP lenses, it's important to have sufficient diagnostic lenses. Some recommended sets are provided in Table 1.

12  RGP lens holders for lensometry, available from Topcon, are circular devices with variable diameter receptacles for holding RGP lenses from 7-12mm in diameter for power measurement.

13  A DMV remover is very helpful in the quick removal of an RGP lens during the diagnostic fitting process, especially with first-time RGP lens wearers.

14  Topical anesthetics are useful fitting aides when faced with an apprehensive patient during the diagnostic fitting process.

Acknowledgements: Drs. Joe Barr, Peter Bergenske, Bill Edmondson, Barry Eiden, Art Epstein, Bob Grohe, Steve Harney, Milt Hom, Scott Kenitz, Joe Shovlin, Loretta Szczotka and Cheri Vincent.