This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.

Often when fitting daily disposable lenses, patients may need different designs in each eye. For example, quite a few patients will need a toric lens in one eye and a spherical lens in the other, or a spherical lens in their dominant eye and a multifocal lens in their nondominant eye. For these reasons, many manufacturers want to expand their family of lenses to include spherical, toric, and multifocal lens designs. 

Development

Manufacturers’ R&D teams work with material scientists to improve the materials we utilize with contact lens patients for handling, comfort, health, vision, and hydration. After a material is proven to make an impact, manufacturing must figure out how to mass produce that lens. Marketing teams then develop strategies to grow sales as well as support materials for doctors and patients. This process usually starts with the spherical lens design and then expands to the rest of the family down the road. 

Keep an Open Mind

Many patients who are unsatisfied with their current lenses will silently drop out of contact lens wear if they are not presented the opportunity to wear something new that will improve their wearing experience. So, use these manufacturers as resources to learn about new products. Speak with company representatives and colleagues, and attend educational conferences. New daily disposable products create an opportunity for eyecare professionals to grow daily disposable fits and, ultimately, contact lens sales.

Fill Up Your Fit Sets

When a patient presents with an interest in contact lenses, it is critical to have the appropriate products at your disposal. Obviously, every manufacturer would like to be our first choice for every prescription, but that can’t happen if we don’t have their diagnostic lenses in stock. How do we choose one product over another for a specific patient? Availability is important, but the rest is our responsibility.

One exciting thing about being a contact lens practitioner is that many new materials and designs are being launched regularly. So, stay up to date on the different modalities and designs that not only can provide many options to new and previous contact lens wearers, but can also help us grow our contact lens business.