Menicon America recently launched its Miru 1month lens family in the U.S. market. This lens was developed in Japan and has been available on the European market for a decade; it is now available in the United States in spherical, toric, and multifocal designs. The lenses take their name from the Japanese word for seeing—and Menicon says that from the time that patients wake up in the morning until they go to sleep at night, Miru 1month Menicon lenses let patients look at life in a new way.

Miru 1month Menicon is a monthly replacement silicone hydrogel contact lens manufactured in asmofilcon A material that has a water content of 40% and a reported Dk/t at –3.00D of 161. It uses both MeniSilk and NanoGloss technologies. The company says that MeniSilk is a unique silicone polymerization and innovative hydrophilic monomer resulting in lenses that have ultra-high Dk/t, exceptional hydration, and optimized transparency. The NanoGloss technology is a unique surface technology with nanometer precision resulting in lenses that have a super-smooth surface, resistance to bacteria, and excellent wettability, according to the company. Menicon also says that the NanoGloss surface reduces lipid deposits as well as absorption of cosmetic oils and gels to help ensure a smoother, more comfortable lens surface. In addition, the lens thickness profile and edge are designed to maximize oxygen transmissibility and comfort across the entire power range, according to the company.

I recently talked with two practitioners who are actively fitting Miru 1month Menicon lenses in their practices. Here we share their clinical experiences.

Please tell us about your general experience with Miru 1 month Menicon lenses in your practice.

Marie Wehner, OD, of St. Louis says that, overall, Miru 1month Menicon has been a good addition to her practice. “It is easy to fit, and patients have found it to be comfortable. The availability in two base curves has allowed for changes within the same brand of lens if the proper fit or comfort is not achieved with the first lens,” she says.

Jason Brand, OD, from Lombard, IL had similar thoughts, stating that overall, the Miru 1month has been a very good workhorse lens in his practice. “Patients take to it quickly, and overall it’s a comfortable lens. The price point, both wholesale and retail, is also very advantageous,” he says.

Who are the best candidates for this lens and why?

Any soft lens patient can be a candidate for this lens, according to Dr. Wehner. “It has a high oxygen permeability with a Dk/t of 161, so it is a great option for patients who have high myopic or hyperopic prescriptions,” she says. Because the Miru 1month lens is also resistant to lipid deposits, Dr. Wehner considers this lens for patients who are prone to developing lipid deposits on their contact lenses.

“The toric lens has been ideal for patients who have had problems with axis rotation in other lenses,” Dr. Wehner adds. The toric parameters are currently somewhat limited, so the best patients for the toric design are those who have with-the-rule and against-the-rule astigmatism, she says. She looks forward to future availability of oblique axis parameters.

Dr. Brand commented that the 8.6mm base curve of the lens fits a wide range of patients. “I use it for patients who have K-readings ranging from 41D to 47D, I have experienced equal success across this spectrum,” he says. Miru 1month is also Dr. Brand’s go-to lens for patients who are currently wearing high-Dk lenses but complain of dryness symptoms.

Tell us about the fitting process for Miru 1month and what has worked best for you.

Dr. Wehner notes that, as with other mass-produced soft contact lenses, the fitting is straightforward. “I appreciate the availability of both the 8.3mm and 8.6mm base curves to ensure that a comfortable fit can be achieved for almost everyone,” she says. In addition, the markings on the lens help with determining whether the lens is everted, and they also identify the base curve. “In my experience, I have fit more of the 8.3mm base curve than the 8.6mm base curve,” she says.

Because of the Miru 1month base curve, Dr. Brand comments that the fitting process is about as easy as it gets. “If the K-readings are between 41D and 47D, then I wouldn’t think twice about putting patients in this lens,” he adds.

How has the Miru 1month lens helped with troubleshooting for particular patients? Tell us about any success stories in that regard.

Dr. Wehner has refit several patients into Miru 1month who have been prone to lipid deposition in other monthly lenses. “So far, response has been good; ultimately, time will tell,” she says.

The two main benefits of this lens for Dr. Brand are its cost and its success in patients who are experiencing dry eye with high-Dk lenses. He says that the Miru 1month has a respectable Dk, and he finds that patients complain less about dryness with their contact lenses when they make this switch. “I have switched many patients for this reason with great success. The patients are more happy, they have paid less money, and the net profit to the practice is higher. It’s a win-win every time,” he states. CLS