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Asia Pacific optometry experts call for more awareness and education for contact lens wearers and practitioners
The need for greater awareness and increased education for the best optometry care possible among practitioners and consumers across Asia Pacific was the clarion call made by Asia Pacific’s leading optometry experts who met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for CooperVision’s “Key Opinion Leaders Meeting for the Asia Pacific Region” held in January.
This meeting involved opinion leaders from Asia Pacific’s optometry industry who came together to discuss the latest trends, developments and issues of concern for the region’s optometry industry. The experts came from diverse professional backgrounds in the optometry, ophthalmology, medical science, business and marketing industry.
Keeping practitioners updated on new contact lens technology
With the regular emergence of new and better technology in the contact lens industry, it is vital that practitioners are made aware of these developments. A case in point is the low utilisation rate of toric lenses for astigmatism in Asia Pacific. The participants attributed this trend to the lack of awareness among consumers and practitioners.
Industry leaders such as contact lens companies and technology developers can take the lead to reach out to practitioners through training sessions, lectures, seminars or conferences, as part of optometry practitioners’ continual education, the experts said.
“The key is education and communication with the consumers. Adequate training makes us comfortable to recommend it to our consumers. Consumers are also happy with trials,” observed Mr Mark Roth, a clinical optometrist from Melbourne.
To encourage wider participation, professional optometrists could be required to fulfil a certain number of continuing education credits each year before their license can be renewed, the experts suggested.
Such sessions will also give these optometrists an opportunity to interact with their peers from the region and other parts of the globe and to discuss solutions to common challenges, such as Asian contact lens wearers being more prone to dryness.
Contact lens and dry eyes
Participants at the Key Opinion Leaders Meeting discussed the various ways to alleviate dryness associated with contact lens wear. Professor Greg Wu from Hong Kong finds silicone hydrogel and daily disposables are great for dry eyes. Mr Mark Roth shared his methods for dryness. He said, “We addressed this problem through lid care, oral doxycycline and omega 3 fatty acids supplements.” There are also new and unique contact lens materials that naturally attract water molecules, making lenses less likely to be coated by protein/lipid deposits, allowing the contact lens to be less prone to dryness and keep eyes moist and comfortable.
Contact lens is a medical device
At the meeting, experts noted that consumers treat contact lenses as medical devices, and not just another commodity. The experts praised countries such as the Philippines and Australia, whose regulations clearly state that contact lenses were medical devices that can only be prescribed by practitioners.
Web-based ordering a risk to consumers
One concern raised in the Meeting was the sale of contact lenses through the Internet. This poses a risk to consumers as it does not include professional review and fitting. “It is a risk for consumers. Consumers are not capable of determining whether the contact lens can fit the eye,” cautioned Dr Jesse B Caguioa, Low Vision Specialist at the Asian Eye Institute. Mr Choi Ik June, General Manager of CooperVision Korea added, “We send newsletters to consumers to tell them about internet ordering and product liability issues.”
Besides having badly fitted lens, consumers may run into problems such as expired goods and identity theft. Dr John Hsiao, Assistant Professor at Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan mentioned that web sales are regulated in Taiwan and having strict guidelines will keep consumers safe.
Consumers need to be educated
Participants at the Key Opinion Leaders Meeting agreed that contact lens sales should be driven by practitioners’ expert recommendations.”The important message to the consumers is to consult your optometrists,” said Dr Chung Kah Meng, a private practitioner from Malaysia and president the of Association of Malaysian Optometrists. Consumer campaigns in the media can communicate this message to the mass audience. Also, these campaigns can serve to showcase the various types of speciality lenses, unique technology and benefits.
“Consumer education is about what contact lenses can do for them. The more the [optometry] association provides accurate messages, the more consumers respect you as a professional,” noted Professor Greg Wu, also the founder of Association of Private Practise Optometrists in Hong Kong. The experts noted that there must be clear guidelines in advertising claims, so as not to mislead consumers. “Every advertisement should carry warnings to remind consumers they should always consult their eye care practitioners for prescription,” suggested Ms Jirapa Sukitjavanich, Business Development Director at Maxim Inter-Corporation Ltd, a leading medical devices company based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Future direction of the optometry industry – a standard Asia-Pacific model
The experts concluded that developing a standard industry model is a step forward for the industry. It will ensure that consumers get the best possible care. The proposed industry model should include licensing, continuing education of practitioners, practice and advertising guidelines. This model can be developed with inputs from global industry leaders and optometry experts.
Currently different countries use different frameworks, but the experts agreed that the needs of consumers are the same across the region – namely, good visual health and safe standards of eye care.
“We should develop a standard Asia-Pacific model. We can involve the World Council of Optometry to share their expertise and experience,” said Mr Mark Roth. Professor Xie Pei Ying, Professor of Opthalmology at the Peking University added, “The role of the industry is very important in influencing practitioners.”
Having a comprehensive set of standard criteria will bring the Asia Pacific on par with global best practices in eye care legislation. It will also help to influence the core curriculum in optometry schools across the region, and thus ensure that fresh talents possess adequate knowledge and skills when they enter the industry.
Commenting on the success of CooperVision’s inaugural Key Opinion Leaders Meeting for the Asia Pacific, Dr Tan Kah Ooi said, “The Meeting has examined various issues in depth. CooperVision continues to support the role of the practitioners as primary eye care providers and they convey the right message to the consumers about eye care and health. With the success of this meeting, CooperVision plans to make this an annual event.”
Published clinical study evaluating the protein deposition on continuous wear surface modified (Balafilcon A) and non-surface modified (Comfilcon A) Silicone Hydrogel contact lens materials reported that even though both SH lens deposit low levels of protein, Comfilcon A deposited significantly lower protein levels as a percentage of total proteins deposited. The study was conducted by the Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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