Hottest stories of 2014: Contact lenses

1. Dr. Ernie Bowling: B+L introduce Ultra contact lenses

Our most popular contact-lens related story of 2014 comes from Chief Optometric Editor Ernie Bowling, OD, FAAO, on Bausch + Lomb’s launch of the Ultra silicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Dr. Bowling describes his experience with the lens at the brand’s launch event.

“The final payoff is feeling the lens on the eye,” he writes. “Or should I say not feeling the lens on the eye, which was my experience. The doctors in attendance were given the opportunity to evaluate the lens on themselves and their colleagues, yet I wore the lens for several hours following the fitting session. The lens was more than comfortable; I had no awareness of the contact lens on my eye for the several hours I wore it.”

This editorial was published way back in February, but the article remained a consistent interest to our readers all year long.

“The fact that this story makes it to our top list from an early 2014 publication date shows the interest our readers have in this product,” says Gretchyn M. Bailey, NCLC, FAAO, Optometry Times content channel director and editor in chief.

Read Dr. Bowling’s thoughts on Ultra here.

2. Alcon launches toric, multifocal daily disposable contact lenses

Our second most popular contact lens story of the year also related to new contact lens designs on the market-this time from Alcon with the Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal and the Dailies AquaComfort Plus Toric lenses.

“Clearly our readers want to know more about new contact lenses coming to market, especially new options for astigmatic and presbyopic patients,” says Gretchyn M. Bailey, NCLC, FAAO, Optometry Times content channel director and editor in chief.

Read the story here.

3. Six ways patients are saving on glasses and contact lenses

This summer, an article from U.S. News and World Report offered advice to your patients about how to save money on glasses and contact lenses. The advice ranges from recommending researching vision coverage before purchasing a plan to checking online to look for extra savings.

“This article really drives home a point I’ve been preaching to my patients for years: just because your employer offers a vision plan doesn’t necessarily mean you should take it,” says Optometry Times Chief Optometric Editor Dr. Ernie Bowling. “Do a cost-analysis of your individual situation. Many times especially in individual plans the vision component just isn’t cost-effective.”

Find out what the consumer media is telling your patients.

4. J&J plans to discontinue Acuvue Advance, introduces Acuvue Oasys six-month supply pack

During the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting this summer in Philadelphia, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care announced it would discontinue Acuvue Advance contact lenses in 2015. The company also announced the availability of a six-month supply pack of Acuvue Oasys. 

“In addition to wanting to know more about new products, our readers are interested in what products will no longer be available,” says Gretchyn M. Bailey, NCLC, FAAO, Optometry Times content channel director and editor in chief. “Knowing what product line changes are coming helps practitioners provide better care to their contact lens patients.”

Read about the changes to the Acuvue line.

5. Dry eye and contact lens wear

Dr. Ernie Bowling makes a second appearance on our top contact lens stories for 2014 with his tips on treating contact lens wearers who suffer from dry eye.  

This story also has the honor of appearing in two Top 5 lists: it hit the dry eye list as well as the contact lenses list.

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board member Katherine M. Mastrota, OD, FAAO, remembers the day she became a contact lens wearer.

“To this day, the excitement of having clear vision without glasses gives me great delight,” she says. “When a patient drops out of contact lens wear, as a doctor I feel defeated, and I can only imagine the disappointment and frustration of the now non-lens wearer. Dr. Bowling’s important article aids the practitioner in preparing and optimizing the ocular surface for contact lens wear by addressing dry eye that can be a major contributor to contact lens failure. By acting upon simple ‘prep-steps,’ your contact lens wearer not only will remain happy in his lenses longer, more importantly, he will enjoy healthier, safer lens wear