Episode three of Johnson & Johnson’s 10-part video series, which addresses common beliefs and misconceptions about multifocal soft contact lens (MFSCL) technology, is available now.
With a light-hearted yet insightful approach, in ‘Word from the street: Multifocal myths explored’, Adam Samuels and Kerry Ho – optometrists and professional education consultants at Johnson & Johnson – challenge thinking around MFSCL fitting and long-term patient care, offering clinical insights with practical tips and ready-to-use resources.
Past Failures Informing Today’s Behaviours
In episode 3 – ‘Past failures inform today’s behaviours – multifocal contact lens technology hasn’t changed enough to retry fitting’ – challenges the myth that multifocal contact lens technology hasn’t changed enough to retry fitting.
Many optometrists remember early multifocal contact lenses as uncomfortable, hard to fit, and limited to monthly disposables. In the discussion below, Mr Samuels and Mr Ho, reflect on their own experiences in the past and present, and discuss how multifocal contact lens technology has advanced substantially over the past 10–15 years.
“Multifocal lens technology has moved on,” said Mr Ho. “Better materials, comfort and optics mean it’s worth another look.”
Key Takeaways
What’s changed?
- Modern materials: silicone hydrogel options improve oxygen transmission and handling.1
- Daily disposables: reduce maintenance barriers and improve patient acceptance.1
- Comfort enhancements: embedded wetting agents and advancements to help patients wear lenses comfortably all day.1,2
- Smarter optics: some lens designs account for age, pupil size and visual needs to deliver more consistent clarity and visual performance.3,4
- Additional features: some lenses now include high-energy visible (HEV) light filtering for visual comfort.3
So, What’s the Verdict?
If MFSCLs didn’t work for your patients in the past, now is a good time to reassess. With better materials, comfort and optics, many patients can benefit from these lenses.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for health care professionals only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individual/s based on their personal experience. The clinical advice contained in this video is not a substitute for proper medical education and training or the exercise of independent health care professional judgement. Each situation should be considered unique to each patient, and all treatments should be individualised accordingly based on the respective health care professional’s judgement.
References
- Sulley A, Dumbleton K. Silicone hydrogel daily disposable benefits: the evidence. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2020 Jun;43(3):298-307. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2020.02.001.
- TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort: Report of the Contact Lens Materials, Design, and Care Subcommittee. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:TFOS37–TFOS70.
- Remón L, Pérez-Merino P, González-Méijome JM, et al. Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia and myopia control. J Ophthalmol. 2020;2020:8067657. doi: 10.1155/2020/8067657.
- Kim E, Bakaraju RC, Ehrmann K. Power profiles of commercial multifocal soft contact lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2017;94(2):183-196. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000998.
