Connecting Lifestyles to Lenses

When we consider what is the best contact lens for a given patient, it’s important to take that patient’s whole lifestyle into consideration. The circumstances of COVID-19 and the new normal of our pandemic life now present an opportunity for us to get our patients into the lenses that are perfect for their lifestyles. Daily life has been altered, and each patient has new lifestyle and visual demands. We can seamlessly improve our patients’ lives by asking the right questions. Here are some guiding questions to use to connect patients’ lifestyles to their lenses.

What do you do for work? How do you use your eyes all day?

These questions are key because they provide insights into the patient’s visual demands. Patients often answer, “I spend all day looking at the computer.” Follow up with specific questions about their computer setup and digital device use. Are they using a desktop or a laptop? Dual monitors or single monitor? Phone or tablet? All of the above?

Understanding what types of technology patients interface with during their work days can better direct us to the best choice of lens type for them. As a rule of thumb, I prefer premium daily disposable contact lenses such as Acuvue Oasys 1Day (Johnson & Johnson) or Dailies Total 1 (Alcon) for patients who use multiple monitors per day or report a daily average of 8 hours of continuous digital device use.

How do your eyes feel toward the end of the day?

This question is great because many patients experience end-of-day dryness and eyestrain but don’t volunteer this information. When patients report that their eyes feel tired at the end of the day, we have an opportunity to educate them about blue light–filtering technologies and ways to reduce eyestrain.

For contact lens wearers, this a great opportunity to discuss computer glasses with a blue-light antireflective coating to wear over their lenses. For light-sensitive patients or those who complain about glare, consider Acuvue Oasys Transitions Light Intelligent Technology (Johnson & Johnson). For patients who have end-of-day eyestrain, consider antifatigue options such as Biofinity Energys (CooperVision) or digital device spectacles such as EyeZen (Essilor) or SmartLife Digital lenses (Carl Zeiss Meditec).

Do you experience dryness? Have your eyes been feeling more dry?

We all know that sustained near work causes a decrease in the blink rate, thereby increasing dryness. Directly asking your patients if they experience dryness provides an opportunity for patients to discuss their subjective symptoms with you.

Most people experience dryness because of increased screen time at home, but what is their issue specifically: dry or gritty sensation, redness, blurry vision, irritation? Seeking to understanding dry eye symptoms from the patient’s perspective can give you insight to determine the appropriate lens. For patients with mild to moderate dry eye, consider daily disposable lenses such as 1-Day Acuvue Moist (Johnson & Johnson), BioTrue ONEday (Bausch + Lomb), or Dailies AquaComfort Plus (Alcon). For patients with moderate to severe dryness, consider premium daily disposable options such as Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology (Johnson & Johnson) or Dailies Total 1 (Alcon).

How are you sleeping? Are you getting enough rest?

These may not be your typical optometric history questions, but hear me out. If your patient is experiencing dry eyes, headaches, and end-of-day eyestrain and also having difficulty sleeping, you can educate them about the importance of blue light–filtering technology and adequate rest. This question invites an opportunity to discuss how disruptive blue light can be to our natural circadian rhythms. Patients may not be connecting the dots that their newfound Netflix addiction is the reason they’re unable to sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation defines quality sleep as occurring when you’re asleep within 30 minutes of lying down, wake no more than once per night, and sleep for at least 85% of the night.¹ If patients aren’t getting quality rest, suggest that they try wearing blue light–filtering lenses in the evenings and adopt a new bedtime routine. I sometimes suggest that patients use herbal teas and aromatherapy via candles or essential oils and set a digital device cutoff time.

What types of activities have been keeping you sane with your extra time at home?

This question prompts patients to tell you about their lifestyle outside of work. Are they going for walks or being active in other ways? Are they bingeing Netflix on a tablet? Are they knitting or reading? Understanding your patients’ lifestyles is key to being the best clinician possible. Depending on what you learn, perhaps this can be an opportunity for a sale of prescription sunglasses or activity-specific glasses.

How often are you wearing your contact lenses?

In the age of COVID-19, this question is key! Many patients who use extended wear lenses have significantly decreased their contact lens wear time. Patients who formerly wore lenses daily are now wearing them once or twice per week. This is a key opportunity to switch patients to daily disposable contact lenses. Historically, some contact lens wearers have pushed back on the idea of the daily disposable modality because of cost or environmental concerns. Wearing the lenses less frequently automatically eliminates these concerns. As an added bonus, you can sign your practice up for the Terracycle contact lens recycling program to quell patients’ hesitancy about the environmental impact of daily disposable contact lenses.

For non–contact lens wearers: Are you tired of your glasses fogging up?

This seemingly obvious question opens the door for a doctor-patient conversation about options to reduce or eliminate fogging of glasses, especially relevant in these mask-wearing days. You can recommend anti-fogging lens sprays or other interventions such as daily disposable contact lenses or LASIK. We are now fitting more first-time contact lens wearers, as patients are showing an increased willingness to try contact lenses because of the constant fogging of their glasses.

CONTINUE IMPROVING

Being conscious of our patients’ full lives allows us to be better clinicians. With the right questions, we’re able to more clearly identify our patients’ pain points and provide the appropriate solutions. As we navigate COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, we have a unique opportunity to improve the quality of our patients’ pandemic lives.