AOA 2025: Coverage of ametropia with a planned replacement soft contact lens portfolio

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Doerte Luensmann, PhD, Dipl Ing (AO) FAAO, shares key takeaways from one of the top 5 posters from Optometry's Meeting 2025.

At the 2025 AOA Optometry’s Meeting, Doerte Luensmann, PhD, Dipl Ing (AO) FAAO, Senior Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo, presented a poster that earned distinction as one of the top 5 of the year. The poster, entitled "Coverage of ametropia with a planned replacement soft contact lens portfolio," was presented by Luensmann, Jill Woods, MSc, MCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, and Lyndon Jones, BSc, PhD, DSc, FCAHS, FCOptom, DipCLP, DipOrth, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA. The research focused on the prescription coverage capabilities of the Bausch + Lomb ULTRA contact lens portfolio and its ability to meet the needs of a broad patient population.

Note: This study was financed by Bausch + Lomb.

Real-world data, real-world needs

Key takeaways for optometrists

  • Portfolio power range matters: Ensure your go-to lenses cover the full spectrum of spherical, toric, and presbyopic corrections.
  • Be proactive: Raise the topic of contact lenses before patients do—you may unlock lifestyle benefits they hadn’t considered.
  • Maximize your offerings: A well-rounded portfolio like ULTRA allows you to confidently fit nearly all patients without compromise.

Using an extensive dataset of over 100,000 patient prescriptions, Luensmann and her team sought to evaluate how well the Bausch + Lomb ULTRA lens family can accommodate common levels of ametropia—including spherical, astigmatic, and presbyopic corrections. The analysis included the four key lens types in the portfolio:

  • Single vision spherical
  • Single vision toric
  • Multifocal spherical
  • Multifocal toric

By combining these lenses, the portfolio is positioned as a robust option to meet a wide range of visual needs.

Exceptional coverage across refractive profiles

The results demonstrated that the ULTRA portfolio provides remarkably high prescription coverage across various patient types:

  • Spherical coverage (≤0.50 D cylinder): Over 99% of patients are eligible for single vision or multifocal spherical lenses.
  • Single vision toric coverage (≥0.75 D cylinder): More than 95% of patients with astigmatism fall within available parameters.
  • Multifocal toric coverage: These lenses address over 92% of presbyopic patients with astigmatism.

When considered as a whole, the Bausch + Lomb ULTRA portfolio can meet the prescription needs of more than 97% of patients walking into an optometry practice.

Clinical and business implications

Luensmann emphasized that having access to a complete and versatile lens portfolio—including multifocal torics—is key to fitting more patients successfully, especially those in the presbyopic and astigmatic categories who have historically faced limited options.

She also encouraged optometrists to proactively discuss contact lenses, even when patients don’t explicitly request them. “Just because a patient doesn’t ask doesn’t mean they’re not interested,” she said. “There are plenty of everyday scenarios—sports, work, or special occasions—where patients may benefit from not wearing glasses.”

By illustrating the real-world applicability of the ULTRA family, Luensmann’s work helps optometrists expand their contact lens practice and improve visual outcomes across a diverse patient base.

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