By Sara Bonizio
Though Boomers did not grow up with technology in the same way as the oft-discussed Millennials, they are in fact quite tech-savvy, and many have high disposable income. This is a generation now comprised entirely of presbyopes, who are excellent candidates for customizable digital progressive lenses, as well as high-end frames; they are recognized as possessing a more youthful attitude than the previous generation did at their age and have the means to indulge a heightened fashion sense. But as they say, you can’t fool Mother Nature—eyecare professionals must treat the needs of this active, aging population with special consideration.
CARING FOR THE AGING EYE
Beyond the Standard Eye Exam: While the American Optometric Association now recommends a comprehensive eye exam for everyone annually, regardless of age, dilation and ancillary testing for age-related conditions and diseases of the eye such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and low vision become increasingly important as patients age.
Thanks to rapid advances in technology, the latest generation of refraction and diagnostic devices on the market allow optometrists and dispensers to provide a modern eyecare experience for patients by both augmenting and enhancing the chair exam. Many newer tools that perform tests such as corneal topography, pachymetry and non-contact tenometry are easily operated by any level of practice staff, often with the touch of a button—allowing practice managers to streamline workflow.
The AOA, along with The Vision Council and the National Eye Institute, among others, frequently publish robust digital content and resources on their websites. These allow dispensers to supplement the OD visit with important information in layman’s terms about eye diseases, as well as everyday conditions such as dry eye, increased sensitivity to glare and the need for more light to read and perform tasks.
Low Vision: Low vision—visual impairment that is not correctable through surgery, pharmaceuticals, glasses or contact lenses—is associated primarily with adults over the age of 60, which comprises a large number of Baby Boomers. As such, practitioners should be familiar with dispensing devices such as magnifiers (handheld, standing or spectacle-based) and also non-optical products such as task lighting, to enlarge and illuminate written or illustrated material. There are also many new high-tech options available with computerized features that allow text to be scanned and enlarged.
Simple plastic magnifiers are a great low-cost branded giveaway idea for practices to use at community events or as small gifts-with-purchase for patients to keep in the car, desk or purse, even outside of a low vision context.
GETTING PERSONAL: CUSTOMIZED LENSES AND FINISHES FOR MAXIMUM COMFORT
Presbyopic Boomers who require a distance prescription are excellent candidates for personalized progressive lenses, which are digitally surfaced for a customized fit and maximum comfort. This process allows dispensers to optimize the refracting optometrist’s prescription, based on the fitting parameters and the patient’s position of wear. The surfacing process corrects higher-order aberrations, resulting in more precise visual acuity and minimal distortion. The fitting parameters captured in advance of lens fabrication by digital measuring systems also yield greater degrees of accuracy in measuring vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt and face-form angle. The resulting pair of glasses is tailor-made for the patient, with the largest viewing area where he or she needs it.
As a natural part of the aging process, skin loses its elasticity and becomes thinner. Facial skin on and around the nose where glasses sit is a prime example, and dispensers should take this into account when recommending lens materials. Thinner, lighter polycarbonate and high-index lenses will ensure greater wearing comfort for patients.
At Work: For many Baby Boomers, an entrepreneurial second (or even third) wind in their careers is common; as such, many are frequent computer users up to and even beyond retirement. For presbyopes who work long hours at a desk, an occupational lens such as a computer or “office” lens, is a better option than a traditional progressive. This lens is designed with larger, distortion-free viewing areas for computer distance and up-close objects, with a small distance viewing area.
In the non-progressive task-specific multifocal category, the E-D trifocal lens has an “executive-style” intermediate segment in the bottom half of the lens and a smaller flat-top segment for near vision embedded within the intermediate segment. This is a good choice for patients who need a very wide field of view for objects at arm’s length and also must be able to see clearly both close-up and in the distance.
Additionally, variable focus eyewear, which has seen significant development in the industry over the last decade, provides a single-distance viewing experience for up to three prescriptions—near, intermediate and distance—which the wearer can switch between depending on his or her activity.
At Play: For active lifestyles, premium sunwear offerings are a must: Polarized lenses reduce reflections and eliminate glare. These benefits enhance popular nautical recreational activities that Boomers enjoy, such as fishing and boating, as well as making driving and outdoor sports more comfortable. Photochromic lenses, long popular among this generation, are also an excellent choice for busy Boomers who want the convenience of not juggling their indoor glasses and sunglasses.
Even non-retired Boomers play a lot of golf: Many business deals take place on the course. Golfers over age 45 frequently complain that the near portion of general-purpose multifocal lenses gets in the way when they look at their golf ball or try to line up a shot. Such a patient would be an ideal candidate for a “golf lens,” in which a small near segment is placed in the lower outside corner of just the dominant-eye lens. In this position, the near seg is completely out of the way during play, but provides enough near vision to read the scorecard and lunch menu in the clubhouse.
A Strong Finish: As the eyes age, the ability to resist glare and see reflective road signs decreases; pupils shrink and don’t dilate as much in the dark, reducing the amount of light entering the eye and making night driving even more potentially hazardous. An anti-reflective coating should be strongly recommended to Boomer patients, especially drivers, on any lens purchase.
In our constantly-connected age, even older Boomers are frequent users of digital devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones—all of which emit High Energy Visible (HEV) Light. The effects of exposure to harmful “blue light” rays go beyond eyestrain and discomfort: There is mounting evidence that due to this light’s ability to go further into the eye, it may contribute to macular degeneration (already a concern for older patients) over time. Blue-blocking lenses, which also have anti-reflective properties, should be offered to patients of all ages whose intake surveys indicate significant digital device usage.
BOOMING BUSINESS
The Boomer lifestyle—mobile, but often mitigated by age-related conditions—creates a prime selling opportunity for dispensers, from customized lenses to premium sunwear to task-specific eyewear. With a study by the Urban Institute projecting that average annual out-of-pocket health care spending for seniors will more than double between 2010 and 2040, optical practices are well-served to cater to aging Americans with eyecare and eyewear recommendations that suit their unique needs and varying budgets.■
