Beyond the Fit: Insights to Elevate the Scleral Lens Experience for Your Patients

When we talk about “fitting” patients into specialty lenses, we must realize that the practitioner’s experience is much different than the patient's. Some patients may seem easier to fit. This could be when they do not have severe Ocular Surface Disease or significant ocular history. It could be access to high-tech instrumentation, multiple lens designs, and surface enhancements. Or it might simply be the practitioner's expertise. 

Regardless, the reality is, for most patients, the fitting process is far from easy. It can feel overwhelming, even for seasoned contact lens wearers, especially when introducing a new lens design, new parameters, or unfamiliar solutions.

The Patient’s Experience

From the practitioner's perspective, a successful “fit” is often defined by precise measurements, trial lenses, and fine-tuning until the lens fits the eye with good ocular health, comfort, wettability, and vision. However, while clinically necessary, this trial-and-error process can feel frustrating and exhaustive for patients. 

For many patients, the “fit” means:

• Months of Appointments: Repeated visits to the clinic, requiring time off work.
  
  
• Discomfort: Red, watery eyes, often accompanied by a runny nose and melting make-up.
  
  
• Deflated Expectations: Leaving without lenses yet again after a fitting attempt.
  
  
• Struggles with Application and Removal: Frustration with learning effective techniques at home and efficient techniques for work and on the go. 
  
  
• Challenges with Solutions: Remembering which solutions to use for each process, figuring out where to buy them, how to store them at home, and how to carry them for on-the-go or midday removal.
  
  
• Information Overload: Receiving care and handling instructions but forgetting them, or feeling unsure about purchasing solutions, especially when they can not easily find the recommendations.
  
  
• Unreliable Resources: Relying too heavily on online communities for advice. 
  
  
• Extra Costs: Discovering that their insurance didn’t cover all aspects of the fitting process.
  
  
• Lingering Problems: Even with a “final” fit, they may still experience red eyes, foggy vision, and disappointment with their overall experience.
  
  

How ECPs Can Enhance the Patient Experience

Patients need support throughout the process, from their initial evaluation and fit to long-term lens care. This goes beyond teaching application and removal; it’s about creating a comprehensive support system. Here’s what you can do:

1. Comprehensive, Consistent Training:
• Educated, patient-focused support staff can make a world of difference. Ensure patients receive thorough, repeated training on all aspects of lens care and handling.
• Provide written take-home instructions and reminders.
  
  
2. Access to Supplies and Solutions:
• Offering in-house supplies and solutions, or a compliance kit, can eliminate confusion and streamline the process for patients. It also ensures that they’re using products that you recommend for their specific lenses or ocular history.
  
  
3. Clear Expectations:
• Provide explicit Dos and Don’ts and a list of normal adaptive symptoms. This minimizes the number of worried calls and follow-up visits. When patients do reach out, ensure your staff promptly responds, even if the concern is minor.
  
  
4. Proactive Lens Assessment:
• Don’t wait for the patient to express discomfort or dissatisfaction. Regularly assess the lens’s fit, comfort, and performance, especially the front surface of scleral lenses. Given the crucial role of the front surface, this proactive approach ensures a higher success rate.
  
  
5. Trusted Resources:
   
   
• Social media support groups can be helpful, but patients need reliable clinical guidance. Connect them with trusted resources such as the Scleral Lens Society and Tangible Science. Many manufacturing labs also offer patient-friendly resources through their website.

Conclusion

Fitting scleral lenses isn’t just a one-time process—it’s a comprehensive, 360-degree experience for the patient. By providing holistic support, you can improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary follow-up visits, and streamline your practice’s workflow, ultimately increasing patient satisfaction and revenue. Consider incorporating Tangible’s innovative products into your protocol to enhance your patient care and fitting success.

Would you like to schedule a Tangible Practice Training? Click the link below to communicate with a Tangible Account Representative, and book a training session for your practice!

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