The contact lens market ushered in another milestone recently with the 25th anniversary of silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lens materials)
Since the launch of the first SiHy materials in the late 1990’s, SiHy lenses have evolved and optimized the contact lens wearing experience for millions of patients.1 Not surprising, today SiHy lenses represent the majority of fits and refits of any contact lens material, according to recent global prescribing data.2
Mirroring the growth of silicone hydrogel lenses are that of daily disposable contact lenses.3 Combined, silicone hydrogel daily disposables provide numerous advantages for patients and practitioners, including convenience, improved compliance, overall satisfaction, and a healthy wearing experience.4
For manufacturers, maximizing wearer comfort in a SiHy daily disposable lens has been a point of significant research and investment.
Wetloc® Technology is found in CooperVision’s clariti® 1 day family of contact lenses. WetLoc® Technology locks in water molecules and evenly distributes them throughout the entire lens matrix, helping to keep the lens and lens surface moist throughout the day, supporting high levels of all day comfort.5 Additionally, WetLoc® Technology ensures water-loving hydrophilic properties are built into the formulation so there's no need to alter the lens surface or add wetting agents in the lens material.5
Dr. Mike Shaheen of Hills & Dales Vision in Canton, Ohio, shares his top six reasons why WetLoc® Technology delivers on the comfort needs of his patients fit in SiHy daily disposable lenses.
1. Making the Grade for both New and Existing Wearers
In both new and existing wearers, comfort is essential for short-term and long-term satisfaction in contact lenses, Dr. Shaheen says.
A recent report from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) echoes this perception.6 Surveying both new and existing wearers, the industry report found both groups ranked comfort number one when it came to their satisfaction in CL wear.6
“Of course, a good first impression is something we always assume to be needed for new wearers,” Dr. Shaheen continues. “Not only are these patients getting used to the comfort of a lens but getting used to wearing contacts in general. One less thing to be a problem for a new wearer is so helpful. Comfort is a must. For our existing wearers, we may overlook comfort, and this can be a big mistake. If contact lens comfort is not adequate, then we will see drop out numbers rise.”7
2. The Benefits of a SiHy, Naturally Wettable Lens
Wetloc® Technology, combined with the silicone hydrogel material used in clariti®1 day contact lenses, provides comfort by maintaining a long-lasting moisture layer on the lens surface,5Dr. Shaheen says. This helps to have low levels of dehydration-5,8 all this while the SiHy material’s high oxygen permeability* allows for a healthier wearing experience while reducing dryness and irritation, Dr. Shaheen explains. Together, these features provide natural wettability, keeping the lenses soft, comfortable,5 and breathable, even during extended wear, he says.
Looking closer at the science, WetLoc® Technology begins with the careful selection of oxygen-transmitting silicone and water-loving hydrophilic base molecules.5 A carefully tailored reaction ensures a silicone-containing structure is formed first, around which a hydrophilic, water loving network is grown.5 The resulting silicone hydrogel material delivers the optimum balance of properties, oxygen delivery, wettability, and modulus, that contact lens wearers need.5
3. Patient Feedback Provides the Ultimate Comfort Litmus Test
Dr. Shaheen frequently asks both his new and existing wearers how their contact lenses feel at different points of the day.
“We’ve leveraged the clariti® 1 day brand of contacts as our go-to lens in our practice and with great success. This is largely due to their initial9 and end-of-day comfort†10 being so good,” he says.
Dr. Shaheen’s newly fit patients repeatedly tell him that they don’t feel the lenses in their eyes. Both neophyte and experienced wearers also often tell him that they forget they are wearing their contacts at the end of the day, he notes.11
4. Consistent Comfort Despite Changing Visual Needs
clariti® 1 day was the first full silicone hydrogel daily disposable family of contact lenses. A recent update to the family is the clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add with Binocular Progressive System™, which uses different lens designs to optimize vision for all levels of presbyopia, even as prescriptions and vision needs change.5
“Having a true ‘family’ of contact lenses in a brand like clariti® 1 day is the best thing an optometrist can have at our disposal for our patients,” Dr. Shaheen says.
Additionally, the all-day comfort12 gets patients into these lenses easily, he notes.
“Following this success, as time goes on and as a patient’s vision needs change, we are able to keep them in the same brand they know and trust. It’s a seamless wearing experience for both the patient AND for us as practitioners,” Dr. Shaheen adds.
5. Ease of Handling + Comfort Adds to New Wearer Success
Low amounts of silicone used in contact lenses with WetLoc® Technology result in a low modulus, making the lenses soft and flexible with unbeaten handling.‡13
“One of the most disheartening things we have all seen is a motivated patient wanting contacts but not be able to get the fitting down,” Dr. Shaheen says.
Initial handling is paramount to a successful fit, since this may be the first time many patients will ever touch a contact lens, he continues. Reducing difficulty for these first-time fits by having such an easy to handle lens directly helps these patients’ needs,§9 Dr. Shaheen adds.
“All of this helps our practice with more contact lens fits and purchases. This demographic of patients is also very vocal,” he adds. “We’ve seen these patients (new wearers) have their initial needs met with clariti ® 1 day’s ease of handling§9 which gives patients a ‘wow’ factor. Usually, they can’t wait to tell their family and friends about their new contact lenses and their positive experience.”
6. A Comfortable, Full Family of Lenses Checks All the Practice Boxes
The handling,‡13 comfort,12 and ocular health benefits àof clariti® 1 day contact lenses make them an ideal entry point into silicone hydrogel daily disposables for new wearers, as well as existing wearers, while also providing benefits to the practice, Dr. Shaheen notes.
“One of the most significant realizations I’ve had over the years is how we view ‘chair time’ from different perspectives,” Dr. Shaheen says. “From a business standpoint, practices aim to reduce chair time and improve efficiency. Difficult fits that require multiple visits or fail due to comfort, handling, vision, availability, or other issues can consume valuable time and resources.”
As a practitioner, having a company like CooperVision develop an innovative family of lenses like clariti® 1 day makes achieving efficiency and patient success much easier, he adds. These lenses help streamline the fitting process, ensuring that both patients and practitioners experience fewer obstacles. Dr. Shaheen continues.
“What we often overlook, however, is the patient’s perspective,” he adds. “Everyone is busy, and patients don’t want to repeatedly visit the office or face frustration from unsuccessful fits. They want a lens that is easy to handle,‡13 comfortable,12 available in their prescription,14 and cost-effective.¶ With clariti® 1 day lenses, we now have a solution that checks all these boxes while offering options for multiple prescription types and all ages, making it a complete and versatile choice.”
Discover more about WetLoc® Technology and the clariti® 1 day family of lenses here. You can also find additional contact lens resources and learnings at CooperVision’s Online Success Center.
Dr Michael Shaheen is a partner at Hills and Dales Vision, a busy multi doctor private practice in Canton, Ohio serving a diverse demographic and population. While practicing, he embraces full scope optometry with a niche for contact lenses and ocular disease management and therapy. Also, offering new technologies and products that may change patient's lives is a staple at his practice. An alumnus of The Ohio State University, and graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Dr Shaheen has done work and training at various eye clinics and surgical centers in Ohio as well as the Columbus VA Medical Center.
