ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses – My Go-To Reusable Contact Lens

This article was written in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision, Inc. a proud supporter of CovalentCareers and new graduate optometrists.

Matt Geller, OD, and Kate Gettinger, OD discuss two-week lenses and when to use them.

It is so important to create the best experience for our eyecare patients—particularly when they are new contact lens wearers. First-time lens wearers depend on their doctor to recommend the absolute best in comfort, eye health, and lifestyle when making contact lens recommendations.

Which contact lenses are best for new wearers?

We would all agree that we would prefer to fit every new contact lens wearer into a daily disposable lens from the beginning. It is highly regarded as the most healthy option, but sometimes this modality is not possible for certain patients. Whether it be cost objections or feeling “wasteful,” some patients prefer to start with reusable lens options.

Sometimes the barrier to daily disposable lenses may be us, the doctor. We may be fearful to begin the conversation about 1-Day lenses, fearing rejection or sounding like sales agents. Starting these patients in a 2-week lens with the primary goal to eventually move into a daily disposable lens can be very successful.

Recent research has suggested it might be easier to move to 1-Day lenses when a patient’s wearing schedule is 14 days vs. 30 days.¹ I recommend giving these patients a daily disposable lens for traveling, sports, or whatever hobby they may partake in to open them to full-time daily wear in the future. The convenience of a daily disposable lens is unmatched, and I believe that allowing patients to experience this is oftentimes the key to converting them later on.

Learn more about leveraging 2-week contact lenses:

Why is ACUVUE^® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR^® PLUS Technology my go-to reusable lens?

I have had great success with ACUVUE^® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR^® PLUS Technology in my practice as a first choice for reusable lens wearers. HYDRACLEAR^® PLUS embeds a wetting agent (PVP) that mimics mucins to help maintain a stable tear film to provide exceptional comfort,² and as evidenced in NIH clinical trials, the comfort of ACUVUE^® OASYS 2-Week Lenses has never been beaten.*

^{*www.clinicaltrials.gov is a website maintained by the NIH. The 21 clinical studies evaluated subjective comfort as a primary or secondary endpoint for ACUVUE® OASYS Brand 2-weekly and ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™. Review conducted as of October 2, 2019.}

I find that 2-week lenses like ACUVUE^® OASYS 2-week lenses have many advantages over their monthly counterparts. As doctors, we know that the longer a lens is used, the greater the potential for it to attract deposits from the ocular surface and other entities it is exposed to. We also know that many patients are not compliant and might not exercise the best in lens hygiene. When worn properly, a 2-week lens ensures patients are replacing their lenses more frequently.

When it comes to recommending 2-week lenses over monthly lenses, and helping patients understand the importance of compliance, the simplest and most effective thing doctors can do is utilize patient education.

I educate patients on the importance of compliance with wear modality and how that will ensure them the most comfortable and safe lens wearing experience. Sharing stories of abuse or even case photos if you have any handy generally always helps drive the point across when it comes to compliance with wear modality.

In the age of the smartphone, I always recommend patients set a recurring reminder on their phone calendars to remind them when it is time to change their contact lenses and oftentimes tell them to do it in the office with me!

One thing that many patients understand is comfort. I educate patients on how the comfort of their lenses depends directly on how well they care for them and that they change their lenses according to schedule.

A little bit of education can go a long way!

It is important to put patients in a lens that can meet their ever-changing needs

The ACUVUE^® OASYS Family of Lenses has something for almost everyone.

With ACUVUE OASYS^® Brand Contact Lenses 1-Day with HydraLuxe^® Technology, we have daily disposable lenses that can meet the demanding needs of today’s patients. HydraLuxe^® Technology offers a tear-infused design with an enhanced network of tear-like molecules designed to mimic the tear film creating a network of moisture that works consistently throughout the day, rather than being blink released which helps create long-lasting, all-day comfort.³ This lens offers high optical precision to help provide patients sharper, brighter, and clearer vision.**^4,5

^{** Improved optical performance and vision compared to ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology.}

For reusable wearers, including those with different refractive needs, ACUVUE^® OASYS 2-week lenses are available in both toric and multifocal options with extended range toric parameters (-2.75 cylinder). When it comes to fitting these lenses, you can be sure to find most patients’ unique parameters within your in-office trial set, which cuts down on fitting time and improves convenience.

Furthermore, we have additional options with the newest member of the ACUVUE^® OASYS 2-week lens family, ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™. This lens is the first of its kind to quickly and seamlessly adapt in response to changing light conditions. These lenses are not a replacement for sunglasses but they can reduce the impact that light has on the eyes by helping them recover faster from bright light both inside and outside.***⁶

^{*** Compared to ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology}

How do I create the best experience for new contact lens wearers?

Patients trust that you are recommending the best option on the market to ensure long-term compliance, health, vision, and comfort. Having the daily disposable lens conversation ensures they know it is your modality of choice, followed by a 2-week lens option.

When it comes to fitting patients in contacts, especially new wearers, comfort and crisp vision is vital to the overall patient experience. As a doctor, it is your job to prescribe the best lens and, in turn, build loyalty between you and the patient. When you build that loyalty between you and the patient, you also build that trust within the brand you recommend, and that applies to everything from contact lenses and glasses, to special testing or procedures.

ACUVUE^® OASYS have years of supporting studies and patient wear experience that speaks volumes about their reliability as a comfortable contact lens brand.****

^{****www.clinicaltrials.gov is a website maintained by the NIH. The 24 clinical studies evaluated subjective comfort as a primary or secondary endpoint for ACUVUE® OASYS Brand 2-Weekly and ACUVUE® OASYS with 1-Day with Hydraluxe® Technology. Review conducted as of October 2, 2019.}

Learn more about the advantages of 2-week contact lenses:

References:

JJV Data on File 2019. Survey conducted by ProVoice, commissioned by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., n=268 ECPs.
JJV Data on File 2018. Similarities between Mucin and Poly(N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone) (PVP).
JJV Data on File 2016. HydraLuxe^® Technology Definition.
JJV Data on File 2017. Optical Precision of ACUVUE® OASYS Brand 1- Day Contact Lenses with HydraLuxe^® Technology.
Cheng X, Moody K, Xu J, Lesmes L, Hofmann G, Maggio T, Johnson B. Visual Performance of Silicone Hydrogel Daily Disposable Contact Lenses. BCLA 2017 Poster.
JJV Data on File 2018. ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ Objective Clinical Claims

ACUVUE^® OASYS^® with Transitions™ are not a replacement for sunglasses.

Important Safety Information

ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020, or by visiting visiting jnjvisionpro.com.

The third party trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

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