Today, patients over the age of 40 represent the largest proportion of new to contact lens fits.1 In fact, 4 in 10 new contact lens patients are starting CL wear over the age of 40.1
A recent industry report that surveyed over 1,000 prospective, current, and former contact lens patients found almost one in two spectacle lens wearers expressed a high interest in trying contact lenses.2 Additionally, lapsed wearers cited interest in resuming wear. These findings underscore the tremendous untapped potential and a substantial opportunity for eye care professionals to engage potential wearers.2
Other studies have reported new contact lens wearers desire improved vision correction,†3 comfort,4 convenience,5 affordability,‡6 and ease of handling as their top deliverables.7 Specific to multifocal contact lenses, patients desire vision quality, comfort, and ocular health as their top three must-haves in a wearing experience.8
The new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add delivers on what patients want in a contact lens. Paired with an expanded parameter range, the new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add offers eye care professionals the opportunity to fit even more patients and expand their contact lens practice.9
In this Q&A, Dr. Bryan Heitmeyer, OD, MBA, of ClearVue Vision Center, shares his experience with the new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add, and why it’s a go-to choice for new wearers.
What was your initial experience with clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add?
Dr. Heitmeyer: clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add is a great product. CooperVision put a lot of thought into the design and delivered a multifocal lens that’s comfortable for patients,10 delivers good quality vision,11 and provides one of the largest parameter ranges available in a one-day multifocal.9 The 3 Add is a significant upgrade from the original clariti® multifocal in terms of vision enhancements due to the addition of the Binocular Progressive System™ 3 Add system. I’ve found significant improvements in my patients’ near and distance vision.§12 And the lenses’ new Optimized Comfort Edge™ has also made significant improvements in my patients’ perceptions of comfort.”12
Why is clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add an ideal lens for patients new to presbyopia and new to contact lens wear?
Dr. Heitmeyer: The data shows that these patients are looking for a lens that’s comfortable, performs well, and is healthy for their eyes.8 The new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add checks all these boxes. The lens is made of very breathable,13 comfortable, SiHy material which supports eye health. It also has properties that help block UV,* is easy to handle,14 and delivers a great range of vision, particularly as a patient’s reading demand increases over time.11
How can clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add help build the contact lens arm of a practice?
Dr. Heitmeyer: The clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 add offers the widest parameter range of any competing 1 day multifocal contact lens on the market, allowing me to fit more patients vs. other product offerings with narrower parameter ranges.9 I also feel very confident in proactively recommending the lens to patients, knowing that my time needed to fit this product will be very similar to that of fitting a spherical contact lens.15
Another point: Traditionally with older multifocal designs, there was often a compromise, whether that was distance vision or near vision, particularly as the need for increased reading power occurred over time. Generally, older multifocal designs could deliver improved reading vision but generally at the sacrifice of distance vision. What’s really revolutionary about the new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add is the Binocular Progressive System™ that optimizes vision not only up close but also at distance, and for all levels of presbyopia, even as prescriptions and vision needs change.11
There’s a huge “wow factor” when you put a lens on a patient who wants to see up close again but also wants to maintain the quality of their distance vision. With clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add, you can deliver on those expectations.11
What has been your experience with fits and refits with the new 3 Add system?
Dr. Heitmeyer: The simplified fitting method of this lens and its high fit success rate with the first pair of lenses at dispense is a huge wow factor for patients and presents a solution to their problem.16 Most patients are busy and don’t have a lot of time. Historically, with the older multifocal products we had, it often required a lot of chair time on our part and a lot of return visits for our patients. Many patients with presbyopia have peers with the same near vision struggles. If I can fit a patient into a multifocal lens that gives them a wow factor, they’re going to share the positive experience with their peers, friends, and coworkers.
Historically, CooperVision has delivered innovative multifocals in the 1-day space,|17 including MyDay® multifocal and now the new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add. These lenses not only offer a practice building opportunity for ECPs, but also solve a patient with presbyopia’s problem.
Data from a recent industry report suggests a widespread patient demand for contact lenses.2 And when eye care professionals identify a patient as a candidate for contact lenses, it plays a pronounced role in a patient’s decision-making process.2 In your day-to-day practice, do you find this is the case?
Dr. Heitmeyer: Identifying someone as eligible for contact lens wear plays a pronounced role in their consideration. Don’t assume that patients already know they are contact lens candidates. Years ago, they may have been told otherwise by a friend or a provider and might believe they can only wear glasses if no one has raised the topic.
Talk to patients new to contact lens wear and new to presbyopia about the new clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add and watch your practice grow. Discover more about the new 3 Add system, and also visit CooperVision’s Online Success Center for additional learnings for you and your team.
