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What are the new special contact lenses combining comfort advantages of soft lenses with crisp vision of rigid lenses?
These very special lenses, only available from a handful of practices in the UK, are called 'Hybrid Contact Lenses' they have the comfort advantages of soft lenses through a 'soft skirt' and the inherent crispness of vision rigid lens wearers enjoy through the optic over the pupil. They have many advantages, some of which are:
• Stable vision that varies very little compared to rigid lenses, with far less lens movement
• Crisp vision compared to soft lenses
• Less prone to vision changes due to lens dehydration
• Suitable for certain careers/sports/activities where stable vision is needed; athletes, pilots, police etc. or when in dusty environments
• Less variation in vision compared to soft toric lenses for patients with astignmatism
• Available in prescriptions that correct distance and near vision to replace the need for multi-focal or multiple pairs of spectacles
• Improved comfort compared to rigid lenses
• Very high oxygen delivery to the eye surface
• All this delivered in a care programme with monthly charges similar to soft daily disposable lenses
To discuss if this may be suitable for you, in advance of a visit to the pratices in Nantwich or Wakefield, please see the email details at the bottom of this article.
Read more: Soft for comfort with crisp vision - Hybrid Contact Lenses!
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Over 21 and prescription still increasing? You maybe suitable for Adult Myopia (Progression) Management?
Myopia or short-sightedness causes blurred distance vision. It normally begins in childhood, being more common in children who have a myopic parent, although sometimes there is no family history. It used to be thought that the normal lengthening of the eye through childhood and teens, stopped on entering adulthood, as it was linked to body growth, we now think this may not be the case. More adults are finding their prescriptions are still increasing in their twentys, thirtys or even older. Approximately one-third of myopia adults only develop myopia after 15 years of age.
A recent surveyed sample of Eye Care Professionals in the UK revealed that 39% of their myopic patients over the age of 21 had prescriptions that were increasing by 0.50 dioptres per year. Given that the normal recall period for adults is 2 years, that means mearly 4 out 10 myopes will find their prescription changing by a whole dioptre each time they have an eye exam, equivalant to going from 'normal' vision measured at 6/6 to 6/12 or a little worse, at this level most drivers would fail the 'number plate test' and be liable to have their licence instantly revoked on the spot!
This is a worrying public health issue, as increasing short sight due to a growing eye length is connected with a number of more serious eye problems in later life, such as retinal detachment, cataract, glaucoma & myopic macular degeneration. With every increase in myopia, the risk of developing these conditions increases. If the same mechanisim that drives increasing strengths of prescriptions in children continues in adults and the longer the prescription continues to increase the higher the risk of vision complications. Unlike paedatric myopia we don't, as yet, have as much evidence to have a firm conclusion, it remains not fully understood, but it is concerning.
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ChromaGen™ is patented, trademarked and USA Food & Drug Administration cleared. The patented diagnostic system is used by trained professionals for the management of Academic Skills Disorder (ASD™).
ASD™ is an umbrella term that includes dyslexia, colour deficiency, dyspraxia (lack of coordination; clumsiness), and other learning related difficulties. In some cases, ChromaGen has also been known to help migraine sufferers. ChromaGen is a system of eight coloured haploscopic filters of a known density and colour hue which, when prescribed to sufferers of ASD™, has been proven to improve these disorders. It is important to note that currently I only prescribe these contact lenses for Colour Vision Deficiency, not other aspects of ASD. Here you can read my general portfolio Andrew D Price FBDO(Hons)CL MBCLA If you would like to discuss attending one of my clinics to be assessed with these lenses please email
Read more: About ChromaGen™ Contact Lenses for Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD)
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PUNCTAL OCCLUSION - WHAT IS IT? This where absorbable Intracanalicular Implants, which are microscopic plugs or implants that reduce tear flow out through the lacrimal ducts, and so retain more tears on the ocular surface, are placed in the tear ducts. The tear ducts drain tears from the eye down into the nasal pages and the back of the throat.
WHY ARE THEY USED? For dry eye patients who have difficulties producing enough tears, known as aqueous deficient dry eye, they can be particularly helpful.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? One of the pathways for tear loss is reduced, retaining more moisture on the eyes surface. It may mean less frequent application of drops during the day and more eye comfort on waking.
I, and some of my colleagues, may use absorbable Intracanicular Implants for patients, avoiding potential plug loss and discomfort, these absorb over a period of time, sometimes up to six months, rather like absorbable sutures. Implantation is painless and they are not visible to the naked eye.
The relatively simple procedure of punctal occlusion has been shown to reduce signs and symptoms of both dry eye1 and contact lens discomfort2. In appropriate patients it is quick, straightforward and pain free both during the procedure and afterwards. In such patients the need for dry eye drops was also significantly reduced. Email
Sources: 1. Effects of Punctal Occlusion on Clinical Signs and Symptoms and on Tear Cytokine Levels in Patients with Dry Eye. Louis Tong MBBS FRCS DM PhD et al. The Ocular Surface, issue 2, April 2016. Pages 223-241. 2. Poster presentation following clinical trial of treating Contact Lens Discomfort with Punctal Occlusion. Andrew D Price FBDO(Hons)CL MBCLA. British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference, Liverpool, May 2017