Bausch & Lomb Optima 38/SP Contact Lenses - Manual (Page 3)

the particular lens or wearing schedule; accumulation of
lens deposits; damage to the lens; improper fitting;
length of wearing time; and the presence of ocular
debris or environmental contaminants. While the great
majority of patients successfully wear contact lenses,
extended wear of lenses also is reported to be associated
with a higher incidence and degree of epithelial
microcysts and infiltrates, and epithelial polymegathism,
which require consideration of discontinuation or
restriction of extended wear. The epithelial conditions are
reversible upon discontinuation of extended wear.
The reversibility of endothelial effects of contact lens
wear has not been conclusively established. As a result,
practitioners’ views of extended wearing times vary from
not prescribing extended wear at all to prescribing
flexible wearing times from occasional overnight wear to
prescribing extended wearing periods from 1 to 7 days
with specified intervals of no lens wear for certain
patients, with follow-up visits, and with a proper care
regimen. Some practitioners also recommend frequent
replacement of lenses at intervals such as one to two
weeks. Other practitioners may prescribe disposable
contact lens wear where lenses are disposed of at each
removal.
• If a patient experiences eye discomfort, excessive
tearing, vision changes, or redness of the eye, the
patient should be instructed to immediately remove
lenses and promptly contact his or her eye care
practitioner.
PRECAUTIONS
Special Precautions for Eye Care Practitioners:
• Due to the small number of patients enrolled in clinical
investigation of lenses, all refractive powers, design
configurations, or lens parameters available in the lens
material are not evaluated in significant numbers.
Consequently, when selecting an appropriate lens design
and parameters, the eye care practitioner should
consider all characteristics of the lens that can affect
lens performance and ocular health, including oxygen
permeability, wettability, central and peripheral thickness,
and optic zone diameter.
The potential impact of these factors on the patient’s
ocular health should be carefully weighed against the
patient’s need for refractive correction; therefore, the
continuing ocular health of the patient and lens
performance on the eye should be carefully monitored
by the prescribing eye care practitioner.
• Patients who wear aspheric contact lenses to correct
presbyopia may not achieve the best corrected visual
acuity for either far or near vision. Visual requirements
vary with the individual and should be considered when
selecting the most appropriate type of lens for each
patient.
• Fluorescein should not be used while the patient is
wearing the lenses, because the lenses will become
discolored. Whenever fluorescein is used, flush the eyes
with sterile saline solution. Wait at least 5 minutes
before reinserting the lenses. If it is not possible to flush
the eyes, wait a minimum of 1 hour before reinserting
the lenses. If replaced too soon, the lenses may absorb
residual fluorescein.
• Before leaving the eye care practitioner’s office, the
patient should be able to promptly remove lenses or
should have someone else available who can remove the
lenses for him or her.
• Eye care practitioners should instruct the patient to
remove the lenses immediately if the eye becomes red
or irritated.
• Aphakic patients should not be fitted with SOFLENS ®
(polymacon) Contact Lenses until the determination is
made that the eye has healed completely.
Eye care practitioners should carefully instruct patients
about the following care regimen and safety precautions:
• Different solutions cannot always be used together, and
not all solutions are safe for use with all lenses. Use only
recommended solutions.
– Never use solutions recommended for conventional
hard contact lenses only.
– Chemical disinfection solutions should not be used
with heat unless specifically indicated on product
labeling for use in both heat and chemical disinfection.
– Always use fresh unexpired lens care solutions.
– Always follow directions in the package inserts for the
use of contact lens solutions.
– Sterile unpreserved solutions, when used, should be
discarded after the time specified in the labeling
directions.
– Do not use saliva or anything other than the
recommended solutions for lubricating or wetting
lenses.
– Always keep the lenses completely immersed in the
recommended storage solution when the lenses are
not being worn. Prolonged periods of drying can
damage lenses. Follow the lens care directions for Care
for a Dried Out (Dehydrated) Lens if lens surface does
become dried out.
• If the lens sticks (stops moving) on the eye, follow the
recommended directions on Care for a Sticking Lens.
The lens should move freely on the eye for the continued
health of the eye. If nonmovement of the lens continues,
the patient should be instructed to immediately consult
his or her eye care practitioner.
• Always wash and rinse hands before handling lenses.
Do not get cosmetics, lotions, soaps, creams,
deodorants, or sprays in the eyes or on the lenses. It is
best to put on lenses before putting on makeup. Water-
base cosmetics are less likely to damage lenses than oil-
base products.
• Do not touch contact lenses with the fingers or hands if
the hands are not free of foreign materials, as
microscopic scratches of the lenses may occur, causing
distorted vision and/or injury to the eye.
• Carefully follow the handling, insertion, removal,
cleaning, disinfecting, storing and wearing instructions