Bausch + Lomb has introduced optometrists to its new Ultra contact lens for digital users and a Biotrue Oneday contact lens for presbyopes via a roadshow, which commenced in Sydney mid-February.
At the signature event in Sydney, Brisbane-based optometrist Jason Holland spoke about how he had already integrated the new lenses into his practice. Sydney optometrist Narelle Hine presented findings from large scale studies of patients in Australia who had trialled the wear.
Speaking of the growing market for Ultra contact lenses, Mr. Holland said consumers’ love of technology and screens had changed the way we use our eyes. “Achieving breathability, good clinical signs and fit, and reading at 6/6 is not enough for our patients. With people spending several hours on their smart phone as they commute to work each day then seven to nine hours on a screen in the office, it is important to offer them clear sustained and comfortable vision,” said Mr. Holland.
The new B+L Ultra contact lens comprises long and short chain silicone monomers, which make the lens more breathable and softer than its predecessors. Additionally the “hydrophilic water loving molecule” Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), wrapped around the silicone molecule, gives the lens surface high wettability.
“The new B+L Ultra contact lens comprises long and short chain silicone monomers, which make the lens more breathable and softer than its predecessors”
Mr. Holland said the aspheric optics of the Ultra contact lens “gives this lens a point of difference for me in my practice because if you get a well-tuned lens with good aspheric optics, patients’ vision is not just better on a high contrast chart, it’s also better in low light situations, such as driving from work at the end of the day”.
Mr. Holland said the Ultra’s low spherical aberration “makes a significant difference to distance vision and even for intermediate and reading – so you’ve got balanced aberrations across every lens power in the whole range”.
Biotrue Oneday for Presbyopia
On the new Biotrue Oneday for Presbyopia, Mr. Holland said “the absolute key” to the increased water content of this lens was the Surface Active Macromers (SAM), which combine with the lens polymer to evolve Hydrogel into Hypergel.
“By binding SAM into the lens surface, it acts like a lipid layer to control evaporation and reduce dehydration,” explained Mr. Holland. “This is really clever – it’s important that it’s bound, we’re not relying on lubricants to leach out of a contact lens, it’s bound to the lens surface… and it won’t rub off.”
Mr. Holland said the Biotrue Oneday contact lens for Presbyopia had a Dk/t of 42, which was “more than enough for daily wear” and a UV blocker.
“What makes it my ‘go to lens’ is the ease of choosing which power to go with – how to work out the prescription option within minimal steps. I use no more than three lenses – it’s a three step process and an easy lens to fit,” he said.
He said the Biotrue Oneday was a good lens to introduce to young presbyopes experiencing vision change but resistant to multifocal spectacles. “I always put the lens in the patient’s eye first before I start to teach… and I let them trial an extended wear lens… that way they go away and have the experience of living their life with contact lenses. It’s a huge market but we have to rethink how we tackle it.”
He cautioned on the need to discuss the blink rate with any contact lens wearer, particularly those who use screens because, he said, the blink rate becomes significantly slower. “It’s important to talk about the need to have nice full blinks throughout the day – to suggest they have something in their day to remind them to blind throughout the day.” He said this would be critical to long-term wearer success.
