Seven Ways: Occupational lenses

Occupational lenses (OPPLs) were invented due to the ever growing usage of multiple devices/tools at a variety of working distances for a prolonged period of time. Such changes in our lifestyles mean that our visual needs cannot be fulfilled by conventional progressive powered lenses. It is, therefore, vital to ask your patient what type of close-range activities they do, both professionally and for pleasure. Ask open questions and allow your patient to describe what their daily tasks involve. Use this information to tailor your advice to find a solution (or solutions) that best suits their lifestyle.

Do they use one screen or multiple VDU devices? What kind of digital devices do they use and how far away do they hold them? What is their natural sitting position? Do they have a standing desk? Does their work environment change between working at home vs in the office? Again, such information can be obtained by asking open questions and carefully listening to their answers. This will be the key to successfully dispensing OPPLs in order to provide the most comfortable visual experience, ultimately leading to full patient loyalty.