Teach patients with active lifestyles how to care for their lenses on the go

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"I like to discuss with all my patients not only what their visual needs are but also what their lifestyles are. Lifestyle should go hand in hand with what we recommend to our patients. They might sit at a computer for eight hours a day, but maybe they swim for an hour before work and then meet up with friends after work for hot yoga or a pick-up game of basketball."

Read the full article from Optometry Times

Dr. Dexter's Take

Prescribing the proper contact lenses for our patient's lifestyles is extremely important. People who sit at the computer for work all day have different visual demands and obstacles than a patient who is outdoors all day in sunny, dusty, or windy environments. A  thorough discussion of the patient's needs will help you identify the best modality and hygiene techniques for each person, as well as will allow you to educate patients on what to do if problems arise. 

This article does a great job at discussing the additional patient education that is required for patients who are active in sports. For example, recommending that the patient keep extra contacts and solution handy and reminding them not to use water (or their saliva!) with their contacts will help keep their eyes healthy, and reduce the risk of complications.