Methods of Prescribing
Low-cost cast molding yields a host of one-size-fits-all products that require little to no clinical measurement to predict their lens fit. This reduces the amount of needed practitioner expertise and chair time, saving the patients from the associated costs.The parallel arm of contact lens evolution is toward technology-driven measurements for reducing chair time. This is analogous to the difference between over-the-counter reading glasses and professionally fit progressive addition lenses (PALs). Measurements of monocular pupillary distances with pupillometers and segment heights improve the fitting and success of PALs.Prescribing for SynergEyes parallels that used for PALs. Corneal diameter is a major contributing variable for the fit of contact lenses, yet most clinicians don't routinely measure it. Using the horizontal visible iris diameter (HVID) allows you to empirically prescribe the SynergEyes lens with a high degree of success. Many corneal topographers and slit lamp eyepiece reticules allow for this measurement. SynergEyes has a patent-pending device, the M-Scan, that is useful for measuring corneal diameter with an accompanying lens calculator that determines the empirically recommended SynergEyes hybrid lens from keratometry, manifest refraction and HVID.The M-Scan also measures pupil size, which enhances the success of the SynergEyes M multifocal contact lens. The SynergEyes multifocal has a center add that uses pupil diameter to determine the anterior add diameter. The device also captures the registration marks on diagnostic lenses to determine whether any optical decentration is required to center the multifocal over the pupil.Conclusion
SynergEyes lenses are polar opposites to the one-size-fits all, mass-merchandised contact lenses. By embodying advances in material science, manufacturing, design and prescribing methods, SynergEyes lenses are directed toward practitioners who appreciate the intellect and expertise behind prescribing.Dr. Chou is in private group practice in San Diego. He is also a consultant for the California Board of Optometry and a clinical investigator and consultant to CooperVision, SynergEyes and Ophthonix.Lens Solves GP Instability
34-year-old male who has keratoconus complained that his rigid lenses would eject and decenter, and that his comfortable lens wearing time had decreased. Visual acuity with habitual GP lenses was 20/40+1 OD and 20/30-3 OS. Manifest refraction gave –6.50 –4.00 x133 and –5.50 –3.75 x129. Best-spectacle corrected visual acuity was 20/70- OD and 20/50- OS. Manual keratometry gave 46.50 @ 055/52.50 @ 135 (3+distortion) OD and 42.50 @ 045/47.75 @ 135 (3+distortion) OS. Slit-lamp examination showed Vogt's striae and Fleischer's ring OU.The hybrid SynergEyes KC contact lenses were prescribed with the following parameters:OD 5.70 BC / –6.00D / skirt radius 8.50OS 5.80 BC / –5.50D / skirt radius 8.60Resulting visual acuity was 20/30 OD and 20/30 OS. The SynergEyes lenses demonstrated substantially improved stability on the eye. The patient also reported reduced lens awareness with the SynergEyes lenses than with his habitual rigid lenses.Discussion
The SynergEyes lens combines a high-Dk rigid gas permeable center optic with a soft hydrophilic skirt. Unlike the lower-Dk SoftPerm (CIBA Vision), SynergEyes is not prone to junctional separation.SynergEyes also provides a soft skirt with a specifiable radius to accommodate a wider variety of eyes. While it's common for keratoconus patients who are wearing standard rigid lenses to end up viewing through the peripheral optics of a decentered lens, the soft skirt of SynergEyes positions the rigid optic so that vision correction is stable even in various fields of gaze. The SynergEyes soft skirt also minimizes discomfort related to GP lid-lens hypersensitivity.— Brian Chou, OD, FAAO
FDA approval of SynergEyes PS.
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf6/K060102.pdf
SynergEyes Website
To locate a SynergEyes prescriber near you, please access our doctor locator found on our website at www.synergeyes.com.
I've come across 9 people who have these lenses. 8 of them had nothing but good things to say, and 1 person felt uncomfortable wearing them (not contact lens tolerant).