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The article presents five myths of orthokeratology (ortho-k) that may be deterring eye care practitioners from realizing its benefits. It debunks that ortho-k works by compression on the central cornea, that ortho-k lenses are difficult and time-consuming to fit and that all corneal topographers are created equal. The article also disputes that some lenses are inherently better than others and that all one need to get started is the certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). INSET: The Ideal Patient.

The article discusses the emergence of contact lens care systems in the practice of optometry in the U.S. It highlights the critical role of optometrists to comprehend solution efficacy and to prescribe the right solution for each contact lens patient. The application of hydrogen peroxide solution systems is discussed.

The article presents views of several optometrists in the U.S. regarding their recommended lenses for treating presbyopia. Joseph Shovlin prefers to use the multifocal lens from Bausch & Lomb or CIBA Vision, while John Rinehart prefers to use aspheric lens designs for patients that requires gas-permeable lenses. It also mentions that lens modality cannot fit all and can only serve certain patients.

The article reports that contact lens industry data has revealed good news and bad news for the contact lens portion of the practice of optometry in the U.S. There is a large upswing in male and middle-aged wearers, and contact lens wear continues to increase overall. More than half of contact lens dropouts said they would definitely not return to contact lens wear, and patients are less likely to purchase their lenses from optometrists.

The article discusses the important role that optometrists play in educating their patients in caring for their contact lenses. Over 30 million people in the U.S. wear soft contact lenses and the responsibility to educate them belongs to the optometrists. The use of compliance contract may not be enough, with this, a new set of guidelines was issued to improve practitioner awareness and patient compliance.

The article reports on the 2007 American Eye-Q survey of the American Optometric Association (AOA). The results indicated that 79 percent of contact lens wearers practiced poor lens hygiene on a regular basis. This included swimming in lenses, showering in lenses, wearing lenses longer than the suggested timeframe, and sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight wear.

The article provides insights on how to manage contact lens inventory in the U.S. According to the author, managing its inventory is important as the sale of contact lenses in private practice generates 17.4% of gross revenue and its patients generates 30% annual comprehensive examination. Thus, several contact lens patients purchase new lenses annually. A chart showing the relationship of practice size to soft lens boxes in inventory is also presented.