Bausch & Lomb Optima 38/SP Contact Lenses - Manual (Page 4)

in the Patient Instructions for the BAUSCH & LOMB ®
SOFLENS ® (polymacon) Contact Lens and those
prescribed by the eye care practitioner.
• Never wear lenses beyond the period recommended by
the eye care practitioner.
• If aerosol products such as hair spray are used while
wearing lenses, exercise caution and keep eyes closed
until the spray has settled.
• Always handle lenses gently and avoid dropping them.
• Avoid all harmful or irritating vapors and fumes while
wearing lenses.
• Ask the eye care practitioner about wearing lenses
during water activities and other sports.
• Inform the doctor (health care practitioner) about being
a contact lens wearer.
• Never use tweezers or other tools to remove lenses from
the lens container unless specifically indicated for that
use. Pour the lens into the hand.
• Do not touch the lens with fingernails.
• Always discard lenses worn on a frequent/planned
replacement wearing schedule after the recommended
wearing schedule prescribed by the eye care practitioner.
• Always contact the eye care practitioner before using any
medicine in the eyes.
• Always inform the employer of being a contact lens
wearer. Some jobs may require use of eye protection
equipment or may require that the patient not wear
contact lenses.
• As with any contact lens, follow-up visits are necessary
to assure the continuing health of the patient’s eyes. The
patient should be instructed as to a recommended
follow-up schedule.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The patient should be informed that the following
problems may occur:
• Eye sting, burn, or itching (irritation), or other eye pain
• Comfort is less than when lens was first placed on eye
• Abnormal feeling of something in the eye (foreign body,
scratched area)
• Excessive watering (tearing) of the eyes
• Unusual eye secretions
• Redness of the eyes
• Reduced sharpness of vision (poor visual acuity)
• Blurred vision, rainbows, or halos around objects
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Dry eyes
If the patient notices any of the above, he or she should
be instructed to:
• Immediately remove lenses.
• If the discomfort or problem stops, then look closely at
the lens. If the lens is in any way damaged, do not put
the lens back on the eye. Place the lens in the storage
case and contact the eye care practitioner. If the lens has
dirt, an eyelash, or other foreign body on it, or the
problem stops and the lens appears undamaged, the
patient should thoroughly clean, rinse, and disinfect the
lenses; then reinsert them. After reinsertion, if the
problem continues, the patient should immediately
remove the lenses and consult the eye care practitioner.
If the above symptoms continue after removal of the lens,
or upon reinsertion of a lens, or upon insertion of a new
lens, the patient should immediately remove the lens
and contact his or her eye care practitioner or physician,
who must determine the need for examination, treatment
or referral without delay. (See Important Treatment
Information for Adverse Reactions.) A serious condition
such as infection, corneal ulcer, corneal vascularization, or
iritis may be present, and may progress rapidly. Less seri-
ous reactions such as abrasions, epithelial stinging or
bacterial conjunctivitis must be managed and treated
carefully to avoid more serious complications.
Important Treatment Information for Adverse Reactions
Sight-threatening ocular complications associated with
contact lens wear can develop rapidly, and therefore early
recognition and treatment of problems are critical.
Infectious corneal ulceration is one of the most serious
potential complications, and may be ambiguous in its
early stage. Signs and symptoms of infectious corneal
ulceration include discomfort, pain, inflammation,
purulent discharge, sensitivity to light, cells and flare
and corneal infiltrates.
Initial symptoms of a minor abrasion and an early infected
ulcer are sometimes similar. Accordingly, such epithelial
defect, if not treated properly, may develop into an infected
ulcer. In order to prevent serious progression of these
conditions, a patient presenting symptoms of abrasions or
early ulcers should be evaluated as a potential medical
emergency, treated accordingly, and be referred to a
corneal specialist when appropriate. Standard therapy for
corneal abrasions such as eye patching or the use of
steroids or steroid/antibiotic combinations may exacerbate
the condition. If the patient is wearing a contact lens on
the affected eye when examined, the lens should be
removed immediately and the lens and lens care products
retained for analysis and culturing.
FITTING
Conventional methods of fitting contact lenses apply to
BAUSCH & LOMB
® SOFLENS ® (polymacon) Contact
Lenses. For a detailed description of the fitting techniques,
refer to the BAUSCH & LOMB
® SOFLENS ® (polymacon)
Contact Lens Professional Fitting and Information Guide,
copies of which are available from:
Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
Rochester, New York 14692
Toll Free Telephone Number
In the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii
1-800-828-9030
In New York State
1-800-462-1720