Transcript Contact Lenses for All Generations

Dr. Kris Kerestan Garbig
[email protected]
Children…Ages 8 – 10 yrs.
Preteen…Ages 11 – 12 yrs.
Teen…Ages 13 – 18 yrs.
Millennials…Ages 21 – 35
Generation X…Ages 36 – 47
Boomers & Beyond…Above Age 50

Survey completed
August 2010
Studied the Prescribing habits
of 576 American Optometrists
when fitting Kids in Contact
Lenses
AGE FACTORS in prescribing
97% of the O.D.s surveyed said they fit
CLs on patients younger than 18 years
In fact, 41% of all the CL patients in their
practices are actually kids under the
age of 17 years
Of the 41% of Kids fit in CL:
2% were between 8-9 yrs
7% were between 10-12 yrs
13% were between 13-14 yrs
19% were between 15-17 yrs
< 8 yrs
Age 8-9
Age 10-12
Age 13-14
Age 15-17
66% of Docs.
15-17 years of age
50% of Docs.
13-14 years of age
20% of Docs.
10-12 years of age
33% say due to DAILY DISPOSABLES:
Why Daily Disposables?
1.
Most Healthy option
2.
Minimal Care/ No CL Soln’s
3.
Extremely Flexible
Healthiest option:
• New, Fresh, Clean CL Q day
• No chance for buildup of protein
or CL debris
• Best choice for Allergy patients
Minimal Care/No Solutions:
• Saves Time and saves Money on Solns
• Eliminates Soln. Related Red Eyes
• Eliminates Soln. Related Allergies
Extremely Flexible:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports
Dance
Gymnastics
Drama
Swimming
Other Activities
23% say due to IMPROVED CL
MATERIALS: (Silicone Hydrogel)




Extremely comfortable
Increased O2 to cornea
Ease of handling
UV protection (Important to 85% parents)
19% say due to Parent or Child Request:

More awareness of benefit of CL
for school and sports activities

Friends wearing CL
10% say due to Current Research on
the benefits of Kids and CL wear:

Articles in Magazines – Woman’s Day,
U.S. News and World Report,
Ladies Home Journal

Info. on the Internet

Interest and Motivation of the Child
( Most important factor to 96% of O.D.s)

Maturity Level

Hygiene

Parental help and support






Ease of Handling
Oxygen Permeability
Comfort
Visual Acuity
Frequency of Replacement
UV protection
• Total of 484 myopic children aged
8 - 11 years of age
• Five clinical centers in the U.S.
• All children previously wore glasses
50% of children continued in Glasses
50% of children fit in CL’s
93 % chose Daily Disposables
7 % chose 2 Week Disposables
After 3 yrs. their Vision-Related Quality
of Life was assessed using an in-depth
profile questionnaire of 26 questions
( Strongly disagree to Strongly agree)
Increase Q of Life of 14.2 units in CL wearers
Increase Q of Life of 2.1 units in glasses wearers
Improved Self Esteem in
NonVision-related areas:
Athletic Performance
 Appearance
 Peer Perception

Fitting Criteria used the 3 “Ms”
1. Maturity
2. Motivation
3. Mom

Contact Lenses
improve children’s
quality of life in
areas beyond vision
including athletic
performance, peer
acceptance and
appearance

Lenses allow more freedom of movement,
excellent peripheral (side) vision necessary for a
full field of view, and less distortion than glasses
because the lens sits directly on the eye.

In the classroom, clearer vision allows for
deeper participation and understanding of
materials
◦ Display office brochures
to stimulate interest and
to prepare parents and
kids for a conversation
about CL’s
◦ Consider keeping trials
in the exam rooms as a
visual reminder for you
and the parent
◦ Use conversation starters...
“Have you ever thought about
wearing contacts?” or “Many
people like wearing contacts for
activities like sports, would you
like to try them today?”
◦ Include both the parent
AND the child in the
conversation
◦ Optometric Staff must
show patience
and care during the
initial fitting/training
◦ Send kids home with
wear/care instructions
◦ On-line resources
from CL manufacturers
◦ Sign up for Acu-minder
◦ Give the kids a way to
communicate with the
office…email or cell #
they can text

Short Attention Spans
(Keep exam process simple)

Small Palpebral Fissures
(Choose a small diameter CL)

Developing Dexterity
(Train parents insertion and removal also)
* Make sure an extra care kit is given for school*




Challenging attention
spans and easily bored
Busy sports and school
schedules
Increasing life
responsibilities and
CL care
Daily Disposables
* Extra Care Kits*
KISS principle
Keep
It
Simple
Succeed
Always give Extra Care Kits…Locker,
Backpacks, Sports Bags
 Compliance Contract…Signed by the CL
wearer in which they take FULL
responsibility for proper wear and care

*Acuminder*

Compared CL wear in Children vs. Teens

84 children between 8-12 yrs.

85 teens between 13-18 yrs.

Protocol…fit, I/R training, FU appts.
@ 1 week, 1 month and 3 month
 Three
variables were measured
◦ Eye Health
◦ Ease of Fit
◦ Quality of Life Issues

EYE HEALTH
◦ Equal adaptation
betw. Child and Teen
◦ No serious adverse
effects or eye health
issues

EASE of FIT
◦ Essentially the same
◦ By 3 months 83% of
the children vs. 89%
of teens found it easy
to clean/care for CL
◦ By 3 months little if any
parental assistance was
needed

Quality of Life improved in ALL areas
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Activities
Satisfaction
Appearance
Peer Perceptions
Overall Vision
Far Vision

Millennials- Age 21 - 35

Gen. X.- Age 36 - 47

Boomers &Beyond- Above Age 50
Characteristics:

Age 21-35

56% wear CL

CL wearer from
earlier age
Characteristics:

Tech Savvy -“Grown
up” with technology

Active lifestyles

Self Educating
( Internet )
Visual Needs:
 Maintain clear

and comfortable
vision
Maintain active
lifestyle
Best CL options:

Daily disposables

Two week disp.

One month disp.
PT Wearers:






Special occasions
Weekend trips
Wedding
Swimming
Beach vacation
Sports
FT Wearers:








Everyone!
Dry Eye
Allergies
Hairdressers
Bartenders
Construction
Pilots
Flight Attendants








Erratic schedules
New moms
Shift workers
Med. School residents
Frequent travelers
Firefighters
EMS
Police officers
Characteristics:

Between ages 36- 49

30% wear CL

CL wearer from
earlier age…92%
want to stay in CL
Characteristics:



Tech Savvy
Learned technology in
late teens to early 20’s
and have witnessed
technological
advancements
Active Lifestyle
Computers
Digital cameras
Mobile Phones
Digital camcorders
Visual Signs:

Moving reading
material away

Use of bright lights

Avoiding small print
Visual Symptoms:

Eye Strain before BLUR

Tired eyes

Difficulty focusing
Visual Symptoms:

Headache

Eye Fatigue

Burning & watering

Dry Eye
Visual needs:

Maintain active lifestyle

Maintain freedom and
flexibility

Maintain confidence
Visual Needs:

Maintain youthful
appearance

Maintain clear and
comfortable vision

Maintain Clear
Vision
• Reading paper
• Computer/Internet
• Cell phone/Texting
• Mobile Internet
• Ipod/MP3
• GPS
• Read a menu

90% use the Internet

Spend at least 8 hrs. per week on line

82% use a cell phone

Average 236 texts per month
Best Candidates:
Good motivation
 Realistic
expectations
 Healthy ocular
surface


Discuss symptoms early, educate and
set expectations

Present treatment options 3-5 yrs before age 40
Mono.= Talking w/ one person at a time
Multi.= Talking w/ one person in a crowd

Treat any underlying DES

Use SiHy CL to increase O2
Best treatment options:

Multifocal CL - Daily or
Planned Replacement

Monovision - Daily or
Planned Replacement

Distance + Single
Vision Near rx.

Do you find
wearing glasses
to be a hassle?

Would you be able
to accept a CL that
meets your visual
needs for only 80%
of your daily tasks?
Motivation factor
Expectation factor
Outstanding
Growth Opportunity:

56% of 18-35 yr olds
wear CL

Only 30% of 35-49 yr
olds wear CL
(Decrease of 26%)
Characteristics:
 Age 50 and above

Only 11% wear CL

Already wear
multifocals or
reading glasses

Characteristics:



Learned technology
in late 20s/early 30s
Need for near
correction
80% interested in
multifocal CL
Visual Signs: (Similar to Eps)

Moving reading material away

Use of bright lights

Avoiding small print
Best Candidates:
Good motivation
 Realistic
expectations
 Healthy ocular
surface


Educate and set realistic expectations

Present treatment options
Mono.= Talking w/ one person at a time
Multi.= Talking w/ one person in a crowd

Treat any underlying DES

Use SiHy CL to increase O2
Best treatment options:

Multifocal CL - Daily or
Planned Replacement

Monovision - Daily or
Planned Replacement

Distance + Single
Vision Near rx.
Any ????