Astigmats matter

“Your patient is always looking for the same four things – to be able to see well, to feel comfortable, to have healthy eyes and to be able to handle the lenses confidently,” the Johnson & Johnson professional affairs consultant shared with OT.

In order to meet these overarching expectations with toric contact lenses, McDearmid ensures that she selects the appropriate lens prescription and method of stabilisation to achieve good vision.

She will consider lens design and material properties to support patient comfort.

“We want the eye to be just as comfortable as if there isn't a lens there, ideally, and maintain that through the day,” McDearmid said.

She added that providing training and regular follow up appointments helps to ensure that the patient is confident handling their lenses.

“We can help to make sure their eyes are healthy, and they’ve got all the support they need,” McDearmid observed.

Faye McDearmid

The value of teamwork

McDearmid highlighted that the vital role that non-clinical staff can play in supporting patients with contact lens wear.

“Some patients may feel more comfortable talking with a receptionist or optical assistant,” she said.

She noted that spectacles are more prominent than contact lenses when a patient walks into an optometry practice.

“Patients can try on glasses from a display. Contact lenses are more hidden, and a lot of patients are looking for us to tell them that they're suitable,” McDearmid said.

“My front of house team is trained to talk confidently about vision correction options,” she highlighted.

This confidence is instilled in the team through regular training sessions with contact lens account managers.

“We will share success stories with the team, detailing what a person came in for, what lens they were fitted with and what was achieved,” McDearmid added.

“We will share success stories with the team”

Top tips

McDearmid encouraged practitioners not to underestimate the benefits that toric contact lenses can have.

She highlighted that even low astigmats can see benefits in visual acuity, reading speed, contrast sensitivity and visual performance when wearing toric contact lenses.

“You might think that a spherical lens could be OK for someone with low astigmatism, but we should be giving them a chance of achieving the best possible vision once the lens is on the eye,” she said.

“It’s really important to remember those low astigmats,” McDearmid emphasised.

McDearmid also highlighted the importance of checking the stability of the lens when the patient is moving their head or blinking, rather than simply when facing straight ahead.

“That's only a very small part of the story, because your patient is moving their head and moving their eye continuously throughout the day,” she said.

The optometrist reflected on the importance of asking questions to increase the chances that a patient will be successful in their contact lenses.

“If I have a lapsed wearer, I will try to find out why they stopped wearing their lenses,” McDearmid shared.

She might ask a patient about the quality of their vision in lenses, their comfort throughout the day as well as similarities and differences they have observed between wearing glasses and contact lenses.

“We can then hopefully address any issues to prevent them from lapsing again,” she said.

When it comes to the contact lens teach, McDearmid encouraged practitioners to keep in mind what the patient can see.

“If someone has high astigmatism, they may well need to have their glasses on when they are handling the lens,” she said.

McDearmid added that because of the method of stabilisation, some toric contact lenses can be slightly unstable on the fingertip.

“It can be easier to place the mirror flat on the table when you're doing the teach and have the lens coming up to the eye, rather than having your head upright and trying to balance the lens on the fingertips,” McDearmid shared.