Word from the Street: Episode 4

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 – challenge thinking around MFSCL fitting and long-term patient care, offering you clinical insights with practical tips and ready-to-use resources.

The Multifocal Fitting Process

Many optometrists shy away from MFSCLs because they believe the fitting process is lengthy or complex. In this episode – ‘The multifocal contact lens fitting process is too complicated and time consuming’ – Mr Samuels and Mr Ho discuss this concern noting what has changed and how to streamline the fitting process.

“With the right workflow and tools, multifocal fits can be efficient, even only five to 10 minutes, and well worth the effort,” Mr Ho said.

Key Takeaways

• Modern MFSCLs often centre quickly and predictably.^3,4
• Clear fitting guides remove guesswork and point directly to the initial prescription.^2,4
• Simple diagnostics and a short on-eye assessment are usually all that’s needed.^1,2
• While the first few fits may take a little extra time to refine your approach, experienced practitioners often routinely complete successful multifocal fittings in 5-10 minutes.^1-3

Practical Tips for Practice:

• Use the manufacturer fitting guide, repeatedly recommended by clinicians.
• Keep a ready set of trial lenses.
• Allow patients a few minutes outside the test room to assess functional vision.
• Document patient priorities up front (distance, intermediate, near) to target refinements efficiently.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Fitting MFSCLs can be straightforward when you follow the fit guide and streamline your workflow. If you’ve been avoiding them because of perceived complexity, now is a great time to re-evaluate.