Frequently Asked Questions
General Q&AWhat is the PolyVue
Presbyopic System?
What differentiates
each of the four PolyVue High Definition lenses?
What parameters
are available?
What is spherical
aberration?
How do soft contact
lenses affect spherical aberration?
How do PolyVue
High Definition Aspheric lenses minimize spherical aberration?
What are the advantages
of the Polymacon material used for PolyVue High Definition lenses?
What is Hypathin™
mold core technology?
How are PolyVue
High Definition lenses packaged and priced?
How can my practice
begin fitting PolyVue High Definition lenses?
Fitting Q&A
Why do you recommend using the High
Definition Aspheric (and not the HDX Progressive lens) when the
add power is less than +1.00?
I have heard that some doctors
elect to disregard cylinder power up to -0.75 dioper in
calculating the initial lens power. How is this possible?
We have a lot of monovision
patients in our practice. Is there any benefit in using
the High Definition Aspheric lenses for this purpose?
As we have been having
good results with the PolyVue Presbyopic System, can I
expect the same for some of my patients who failed every
other multifocal lens in the market?
There are two products in
my fitting set: High Definition Aspheric and HDX Progressive.
Can I combine the two lenses?
The PolyVue Presbyopic System is a unique family of four products that works together to optimize the management of presbyopia, from monovision, modified-monovision and progressive to toric progressive fitting. Practitioners have one system and one common pricing structure for an expansive range of soft contact lenses designed to keep pace with the progression of presbyopia. All four lens designs feature spherical aberration control optics for enhanced visual acuity.
PolyVue High Definition Aspheric
Unlike other aspheric lenses, PolyVue High Definition Aspheric incorporates the
ideal aspheric curvature for each soft lens power to compensate for
aberration caused by lens flexure on the eye. It improves depth of field
and visual acuity at all distances and reduces refractive astigmatism.
An excellent choice for early presbyopes and low astigmats.
PolyVue High Definition Toric Aspheric
PolyVue High Definition Aspheric optics minimize cylinder powers by masking up
to 0.75 diopter of refractive astigmatism. Practitioners enjoy simplified
fitting and reduced inventory.
PolyVue HDX Progressive
All the benefits of the High Definition Aspheric lens with an enhanced
progressive add power in the center of the lens, HDX Progressive is
designed for early to mature presbyopes. Versatile lens provides stable
vision and comfort all day long - all-round winner!
PolyVue HDX Toric Progressive
The first cast molded toric progressive in the industry is designed for
presbyopes with astigmatism equal to or greater than -0.75 cylinder
powers. The progressive front surface, combined with a toric back surface,
provides stable vision at all distances.
Spherical aberration describes what happens when light rays entering a refracting (focusing) surface such as the cornea are less strongly focused at the center of the refracting surface and are progressively more focused off center. Images are focused on a series of points, resulting in “blur circles.” Fortunately, the human crystalline lens has optical properties that cancel out and neutralize most of the corneal-surface-induced spherical aberration.
The curvature of the front surface of any soft contact lens, when placed on the eye, will vary with its power, thickness and lens flexure. A minus lens used to correct myopia will reduce the dioptric curvature of the combined soft lens/corneal surface, and as a result, will reduce the spherical aberration at the eye’s front surface. However, this soft lens/corneal spherical aberration is often over-reduced, so much so that minus lens powers cause the compensating power of the crystalline lens to be unopposed. This can cause an overall increase in spherical aberration for these eyes. In the case of a plus lens used to correct hyperopia, the increased dioptric curvature of the soft contact lens/corneal surface will also increase spherical aberration. The resulting vision is less than ideal, including reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and low depth of field.
In order for a soft contact lens to be effective in reducing spherical aberration caused by lens power and flexure on the eye, the amount of spherical-aberration-reducing curvature must vary with the power and thickness of the lens, and be compensated for lens flexure on the eye. PolyVue has incorporated aberration reduction geometry into all of its High Definition Aspheric lenses by using computerized ray-tracing programs and sophisticated ophthalmic instruments to determine the ideal aspheric curvature for each lens power and thickness in its “unflexed” state. This unique design results in improved visual acuity at all distances, as well as increased depth of field, reduced refractive astigmatism and improved contrast sensitivity. Overall, patients enjoy crisper, sharper, clearer vision than with conventional soft contact lenses. Clinical studies have also found PolyVue High Definition Aspheric lenses effective for early presbyopes.
The water content of Polymacon is 38%, which means the lens is very stable, less prone to protein build-up, and requires minimum care. It can be particularly desirable for presbyopes who tend to have dry eyes.
| PolyVue Presbyopic System | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Power | Cylinder Power | Axis | Add Power |
||
| High Definition Aspheric | +6.00 to -10.00 | — | — | Up to +1.00 | |
| High Definition Toric Aspheric | +5.00 to -7.00 | -0.75, -1.50 | 90° 180° | Up to +1.00 | |
| HDX Progressive | +6.00 to -10.00 | — | — | +1.25 to +2.25 | |
| HDX Toric Progressive | +5.00 to -7.00 | -0.75, -1.50 | 90° 180° | +1.25 to +2.25 | |
A proprietary manufacturing process that produces the world’s thinnest contact lenses (0.06 mm @ -3.00). This ultra-thin design makes PolyVue High Definition lenses extremely comfortable yet easy to handle, and it promotes high oxygen transmission.
Each lens is packaged in a sterile glass vial with a sealed, screw-on cap. Three-lens multipacks facilitate popular quarterly replacement schedules. All four products are priced the same. This unique pricing structure makes calculation quick and easy for practitioners and distributors. For more pricing information, please contact the company.
To introduce eye care professionals to the PolyVue Presbyopic System, PolyVue is offering a free 196-piece dispensing inventory to qualified practitioners. Please call PolyVue for qualifications.
The High Definition Aspheric Lens is an excellent choice of lens for emerging presbyopes, because you can bump the plus and still provide excellent distance vision.
The fitting is super simple: add +0.50 diopter to the spherical equivalent of your 43 year-old patient. For example, if the Rx is -2.00 -0.50 x 180 +1.00 add, and add +0.50 to the spherical equivalent which equals a -1.75 lens power.
Both High Definition Aspheric and HDX Progressive lenses in your fitting set are very effective in masking astigmatism up to 0.75 diopter – or even -1.00 in some cases. It is, therefore, possible to disregard the ¾ cylinder and still give a good distance vision.
If you are not certain, please follow the fitting guide and calculate initial power based on spherical equivalent.
Yes, definitely. Thanks to the High Definition Aspheric optics that provides extra sharp overall vision all you need to do is bump the plus on dominant eye by 0.50 diopter and the non dominant eye by half the add power. The result is improved binocularly “balanced” monovision, unlike with the standard spherical lenses.
In any multifocal contact lens fitting, there are certain dynamics that the fitter has no control over, such as pupil size and lens centering over the visual axis. On some patients, even the superior progressive optics of the HDX Progressive wouldn’t work simply because they just don’t line up. However, it’s been reported that the HDX Progressive has a remarkably high refit success rate – you have perhaps a better chance of successful fits with your “fussy” presbyopes than any other lenses in the market! Please try.
Please also note that there is always the High Definition Aspheric lens which isn’t pupil dependent. Follow the fitting guide for High Definition Aspheric Fitting regardless of the patient's add powers.
For a fitting of early presbyopes up to +1.50 add, sometimes you can expect better results when you fit a High Definition Aspheric lens on the dominant eye (add +0.50 to the SE) and HDX Progressive on non-dominant eye (right on SE). When the patient’s add requirement increases in a few years, you can move them into HDX Progressives on both eyes.
This fitting method also works well for those patients desiring greater distance acuity than it’s possible with progressives on both eyes. Follow the above lens selection method.