clariti 1 day: My Lens of Choice for New Wearers

by Jennifer L. Stewart, OD

Like many of my colleagues, I have seen a significant uptick in spectacle wearing patients who are now interested in contact lens wear- both part time and full time.  Many cite masks as the reason- patients who are still wearing masks at their workplace often feel frustrated by fogging when wearing their glasses.  Other patients are starting to visit gyms, see friends socially, and travel again- and are looking to have independence from their glasses.  I have seen interest from patients of all ages as well.  Young people are back in the swing of sports, and activities, and may be looking to improve their performance.  Working patients are heading back to the office more frequently, and want a change from glasses when seeing their colleagues in person.  Presbyopic patients are discovering contact lens options to replace their progressive lenses and reading glasses, and are excited about the new technology available to them.  Time and time again, I reach for a lens from the clariti 1 day family for my patients who are new to contact lenses.

Why is the clariti 1 day lens my first choice for new and first time wearers?  Patients can have a preconceived notion of how much contact lenses cost, especially one day lenses.  Many have “heard” how expensive they are, and are worried about a significant investment in something new.  For me, clariti 1 day is my “workhorse” lens, providing my patients with a healthy* wearing experience at a very reasonable cost[1].  I explain to patients that my goal is to get them into the lens that will provide the clearest, sharpest vision for them while offering a healthy* wearing experience.  The clariti 1 day family provides my patients a silicone hydrogel lens, at a price comparable to a hydrogel 1-day lens.[2]  I primarily use silicone hyodgel lenses due to their high Dk/t, so I know my patients are getting enough oxygen to their corneas.[3]  Patients notice their eyes feel less dry,^† the lenses are more comfortable,[4] and their eyes are less red3^‡.  The affordability of the clariti 1 day lens[5], along with the incredible ocular health benefits it provides*, makes it an excellent choice for new wearers who may be cost sensitive.

I also look for a lens family that can provide my patients with a broad parameter range, so if their prescription does change, I don’t have to necessarily refit them into another lens.[6]  The clariti 1 day family includes sphere, toric and multifocal lenses, so patients who like the material can stay in the lens, no matter their prescription.6  I use the clariti 1 day toric often, as patients appreciate the sharp, clear vision it provides.[7]  In addition to the silicone hydrogel material, the clariti 1 day toric lens features front surface aspheric optics, back surface aspheric peripheral zones and a smooth gradient ballast.  Many new toric wearers can remark that they “feel” their lens, or have lens awareness, especially those wearing a toric in one eye and a sphere in the other.  I find that design of the clariti 1 day toric helps these patients, as they have less lid/lens interaction for better comfort and stability.

My presbyopic new wearers really appreciate the optics[8] and comfort[9] of the clariti 1 day multifocal.  These patients can often be forgotten, as there is a perception that they can take more chair time than some other patients.  However, I find that starting them in the clariti 1 day multifocal significantly decreases the time needed to fit them successfully and how many times they return to the office.^§  By using OptiExpertÔ, I often find that my first (or possibly second) combination of lenses is the preferred lens by my patient.[10]  These fittings take just a few minutes longer than my sphere patients, and they are often the most rewarding for me.[11]  The low add profile for early/medium presbyopes and the high add profile for higher presbyopes significantly decreases the time needed with these patients.  The silicone hydrogel material provides them with all day comfort.[12] in the older population.  Successful, happy multifocal patients are one of my biggest referral sources- they love to share with others how happy they are to be independent of spectacles!  I had a presbyopic patient that I fit with clariti 1 day multifocal lenses – she was out to dinner with 5 friends and was the only one not to pull out reading glasses.  The five friends all scheduled appointments with me to also be fit in multifocal lenses!  Many of us hesitate to bring up multifocal contact lenses to our presbyopic patients because of the perceived lack of success and increased chair time- I have had a total shift because of clariti 1 day multifocal- I make it my goal to offer multifocal contact lenses to ALL presbyopic patients.

New to contact lens wearers may also be concerned about waste when presented with 1 day lens options.  I love to share with these patients that not only is clariti 1 day a healthy* lens option for them, it is also the first[13] net plastic neutral[14] contact lens in the US[15].  Every box of clariti 1 day lenses (including the plastic in the lens, the blister, adhesive, packaging laminates and the plastics in the ink for printing) is offset by Coopervision purchasing a credit from Plastic Bank^Ò.  Plastic Bank converts an equal amount⁺ of ocean bound plastic through their global network and returns it to the supply chain.  Patients are very interested in finding out more about net plastic neutrality and sustainability, and I have also found this conversation to be a great source of patient referrals.

clariti 1 day continues to be my lens of choice for my new and first time wearers.  The comfort and handling[16] of the lens, thanks to its silicone hydrogel material, at an affordable price,1 make it the first lens I reach for.  I feel confident that I can keep these patients in the clariti 1 day family, no matter how their prescription changes.[17]  I also feel good knowing the lens I am selecting for my patients is a sustainable choice.

FOOTNOTES

*With high oxygen delivery for daily wear, SiHy materials minimize or eliminate hypoxia-related complications.

†63% agreed, p=0.049.

‡Data on file, CooperVision; clariti® 1 day offers whiter eyes than 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST®.

҂ After 6 hours wear.

§ Based on retrospective analysis of 26 patients (52 eyes) with subjective refractions ranging between +5.00D to -6.00D and ≤ -1.00 D cylinder.

+ Amount is defined as weight.

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