Key Takeaways
- The Contact Lens Institute has enlisted Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan to promote The EASY Way contact lens wear and care initiative
- The program centers on 3 behaviors covering hand and lens hygiene, replacement schedules and adherence to guidance from eye care professionals
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has named Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan as the face of a new promotional campaign supporting The EASY Way, the organization’s healthy contact lens wear and care initiative.
Ms. Kerrigan, a member of the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame and a longtime vision advocate, appears in a new video addressing the eye care community and drawing parallels between learning the fundamentals of skating and establishing healthy contact lens habits.
“A lot of skating success comes from mastering fundamentals early on and sticking with them over time. That requires coaches who can break down the practices into simple actions,” Ms. Kerrigan said in the video. “That also applies to your contact lens patients, especially for health and comfortable wear and care.”
The EASY Way—an acronym for Eyes, Awareness, Safety and You—was developed to provide clinicians and patients with straightforward guidance for contact lens care. According to CLI, the initiative has been adopted by eye care practices in the United States, Canada and other countries during the past 6 years.
The program includes patient education tips, infographics and digital resources that eye care practices can incorporate into conversations about contact lens hygiene and adherence. CLI makes the materials available at no cost through its website.
At the center of The EASY Way are 3 recommendations: Think Clean, Remember Fresher is Better, and Trust Your Eye Doctor.
“Think Clean” emphasizes washing and drying hands before touching contact lenses or the eyes. Patients who use reusable lenses should clean and disinfect them after removal and maintain their lens cases as directed. The guidance also stresses keeping lenses and cases away from water because of the potential for exposure to harmful microorganisms.
“Remember Fresher is Better” focuses on adherence to prescribed lens replacement schedules. Daily disposable lenses should be discarded after a single use, while patients using reusable lenses should use fresh solution for disinfection and storage. CLI also recommends replacing contact lens cases at least every 3 months.
The final recommendation, “Trust Your Eye Doctor,” encourages patients to follow instructions from their eye care professionals and contact the practice when questions or concerns arise.
The Kerrigan video joins a series of recorded messages from optometrists and opticians supporting the initiative. CLI said the videos are available through the organization’s YouTube channel, while The EASY Way educational materials can be accessed through ContactLensInstitute.org.
