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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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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
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What is Ortho-K and does it mean I'm contact lens and spectacle free through the day?
Orthokeratology is the programmed application of retainer contact lenses that gently change the shape of the cornea, in a controlled way, while asleep! On taking the retainers out when waking, the cornea retains its new programmed treated shape allowing clear vision for the rest of the day, without (this is the clever part) surgery, contact lenses or glasses. Then before going to sleep again at night they are worn once more. This has many advantages, some of which are:
• Non-surgical vision improvement without glasses or contact lenses
• Easy, safe and effective in use
• Comfortable, convenient and reversible
• Suitable for certain careers/sports/activities in which need to be glasses-free or contact lens-free like: swimming, water sports, athletes, pilots, police etc. or when in dusty environments
• Feel free to shower, swim, use sauna as normal
• No end of day contact lens discomfort or blur
• No contact lens dehydration or spectacle fogging due to face mask wear
It may sound a little amazing, it can be explained another way. Something that most people have heard of and can relate to. That is orthodontic treatment for teeth? Most will know or have heard of this especially in regard to teenage children. In orthokeratology, a treatment lens is worn at night during which it adjusts the shape of the cornea. Removing the over-night refractive treatment leaves your vision newly adjusted throughout the day. To maintain good day time vision, the treatment is simply used at night. To discuss if this may be suitable for you, please see the email details at the bottom of this article.