Plasma Treated GP Lens Handling Tips

September 13, 2007

by Jennifer Dobb, ABOC, NCLE
Consultant

Plasma treatment of GP lenses is becoming more popular, and for good reason! Plasma treated lenses are beneficial to both new and existing GP lens wearers, as it enables them to achieve greater comfort and reduces the amount of complaints related to dry eyes and oily/filmy lenses. While this is a great finding that is being supported by practitioner acceptance and repeat orders, we would like you to be aware of some of the differences between plasma treated GP’s and standard GP’s:

1. Plasma treated lenses are shipped from our facility in a hydrated state, however, they are not sterile. When you receive the lenses, they still need to be cleaned and prepped for patient dispensing.

2. Speaking of CLEANING, it is important to note that abrasive cleaners, such as Bausch & Lomb Boston® Original and Bausch & Lomb Boston® Advance, will remove the plasma treatment and should be avoided. While this can be a concern for some practitioners hesitant to change solution preferences, remember that we stand behind our recommendations in order to reduce the risk involved in trying products that may be unfamiliar to you. The recommended solutions for plasma treated lenses are Bausch & Lomb Boston Simplus® (Boston® lens materials), Unique pH® (Paragon HDS® and FluoroPerm® lens materials) and Optimum® by Lobob (for Optimum® materials). These items are all available from us and may be ordered as samples or in full size kits.

3. If you choose to store plasma treated lenses, you will need to replace the recommended solution at least once a month.

4. Remember, plasma lens treatment represents the latest development in medical device technology and it delivers a noticeable benefit to your patients. Enhanced comfort for lens wearers is priceless – don’t hesitate to recover your costs by setting your fees accordingly.

There are always a few new procedures to get used to when integrating new products in your practice, but it is important to offer patients the latest technology available. So far, the positive feedback we have received on plasma treatment is outweighing the slight inconvenience of altering prescribing and dispensing habits.