Essential Contact Lens Practice Series
The basis of successful contact lens practice lies in both an academic knowledge of the subject and a sound practical approach. This series has been specially designed to be practical in its approach, providing optometrists, contact lens practitioners, and dispensing opticians, a comprehensive grounding in the fundamentals of contact lens practice.
Initial Patient Assessment
A proactive approach, combined with a comprehensive patient assessment and consideration of key factors such as expectations, motivations, symptoms and physiological conditions can significantly improve success rates with contact lens wear. This article outlines questioning techniques to uncover patient needs, in addition to the baseline measurements and observations required before contact lens wear commences. READ MORE
Slit-lamp Examination
The slit lamp examination is arguably the most important aspect of contact lens practice, both for judging the potential of a prospective lens wearer and monitoring the established wearer. This article examines slit-lamp features, techniques and provides recommendations for patient examination, including routine and grading. READ MORE
Assesment of Corneal Contour
Understanding the contour of the cornea is not only critical to the successful fitting of rigid contact lenses but also to the monitoring of the soft contact lens / eye interaction. This article reviews the techniques available for assessing corneal contour and provides information on the interpretation of the result. READ MORE
Assesment of the Tear Film
A stable tear film is a critical pre-requisite to successful contact lens wear and understanding the status of the tear film is a key component of both initial fitting and lens aftercare. This article reviews the structure of the tear film and provides details of the techniques that can be used to assess it in contact lens practice. READ MORE
Soft Contact Lens Fitting
This article describes the characteristics of the ideal soft contact lens fit and the consequences of poorly fitting lenses. It goes on to review the techniques that can be used to assess soft contact lens fitting and provides practical tips on what can be done to alleviate a number of adverse signs and symptoms caused by poorly fitting lenses. READ MORE
Rigid Contact Lens Fitting
This article maps out the key requirements for a rigid contact lens fit and then provides a practical guide to the selection and assessment of a rigid lens. The article also provide a guide to the symptoms that can be associated with less than optimal contact lens fitting and how they can be addressed in practice. READ MORE
Soft Toric Contact Lens Fitting
With over 30% of the potential contact lens requiring astigmatic correction, an understanding of the efficient and effective fitting of toric lenses is critical to a successful contact lens practice. This article reviews the design options for toric lenses and then provides a practical guide to the fitting and aftercare of toric lenses. READ MORE
Managing the Presbyope
The number of presbyopic patients requiring contact lens correction is increasing, yet the opportunity is largely untapped. This article reviews the options currently available from over spectacles and monovison, to more recent multifocal contact lens designs. Guidance on patient selection and fitting approaches are discussed. READ MORE
Overnight Wear
Patients have slept in contact lenses since they were 1st introduced. This article provides information on the relative risks and benefits of overnight wear and the requirements of lens to be slept in. A checklist is provided for the practitioner considering fitting a patient with overnight wear and guidelines provided on how to proceed with overnight contact lens wear. READ MORE
Contact Lens Aftercare
Comprehensive aftercare is an essential part of successful contact lens practice. This article provides a practical guide to the establishment of an effective and efficient routine including the importance of questioning techniques. The article also provides tables and flow charts that help the practitioner manage both common and infrequent signs and symptoms in a practical way. READ MORE
