Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Patient wants the discontinued lens ... Of course she does!

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Apprentice
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bellevue
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    16

    Question Patient wants the discontinued lens ... Of course she does!

    Long time Pt of my office was in and chose a new frame for her updated Rx and wants her Panamic lens put in. Well, Panamic is disco'd and no longer available.

    She tried a Physio last year and didn't like it at all. When asked why she wasn't able to give a great description of what it was she didn't like just that it didn't feel right. Im guessing the Physio was too soft and curvy for her compared to her older, harder Panamic.

    My question to you: What lens is most like the Panamic?
    I was looking at lensguru.com and the Gp Wide looked pretty darn close but I would like the opinion of those here on the board.

    Her Rx: -0.25 -0.75 110 & Plano -0.75 065 Add +2.25 (very little change from last Rx)

    Thanks!

    Sphinx/Chris

  2. #2
    Optician Extraordinaire
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Somewhere warm
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,130
    I was told that Panamic was available until the end of the year by the Varilux rep.

  3. #3
    OptiBoard Apprentice
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bellevue
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    16
    My local Essilor lab said that aren't allowed to get any more. I told to ask more firmly and they came back with the same answer.
    Phooey...

  4. #4
    Independent Problem Optiholic edKENdance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    In the Middle
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    2,630
    Just put a patient into a Biofit. She'd been wearing a Panamic for 10 years. Adjusted no problem. 7 diopter cyl so not a lot of options.

  5. #5
    One of the worst people here
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    8,331
    Maybe get Pete in here for some help.

    What about the Ovation?

  6. #6
    Rochester Optical WFruit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    1,273
    We aren't a Varilux lab, but we can still get it....

    But I agree with For-Life, I'd just go with the Ovation.
    There are rules. Knowing those are easy. There are exceptions to the rules. Knowing those are easy. Knowing when to use them is slightly less easy. There are exceptions to the exceptions. Knowing those is a little more tricky, and know when to use those is even more so. Our industry is FULL of all of the above.

  7. #7
    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    At a position without dimension...
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    5,300
    FWIW-

    http://www.thelensguru.com/comparemaps.php

    Click Ovation and Panamic to compare.

  8. #8
    Master OptiBoarder kat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Duluth
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,121
    GPWide will work great for her.
    I came, I saw, I left

  9. #9
    OptiBoard Apprentice
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    St Petersburg, FL
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    26
    We are a Varilux lab and the Panamic is still available. Essilor is working on discontinuing it so perhaps that is why the lab you call said it was not available. I do know that we have it on our shelves and reorder as needed. Give us a call if you need help.

    Scott
    Icare Labs
    877-422-7352
    www.icare.com

  10. #10
    Rising Star Bill Mahnke's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Dublin/Clovis, California
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    90
    With all the great new progressives available from a variety of vendors, why try to keep her in the discontinued (or soon to be) Panamic? Since she has a somewhat stronger add and really no distance correction why not try a freeform product. Rather than the old HOYA GP Wide, give the iD LifeStyle a try, its worked well for patients that typically hate progressives - those with strong add's and very minimal distance corrections.

    If you're unsure about the product or any freeform, I'm sure you can find a rep in your area willing to "help you" with this patient.
    Last edited by Bill Mahnke; 08-15-2010 at 03:21 PM.

  11. #11
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Romania
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    130
    Yeah, i also heard that the ones from Varilux have Panamic so good luck if you choose them, but i recommand you to try something new because there is a big chance for the eyes to addapt.

  12. #12
    sub specie aeternitatis Pete Hanlin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Hickory Creek, TX
    Occupation
    Lens Manufacturer
    Posts
    4,964
    First and foremost, as mentioned by numerous posters, Varilux Panamic is still available (and will be into 2011). Anyone who suggests Varilux Panamic is discontinued (or who claims to know the date when Varilux Panamic WILL be discontinued) is in error.

    Regarding conversion from Varilux Panamic to Varilux Physio (or conversion from any PAL design to another), there should be very few cases where a patient just "cannot adapt." Assuming the Rx is correct, and the lenses are fit and adjusted properly, any number of progressive designs out there should perform quite well for a patient (not suggesting these lenses weren't fit or prescribed well- see below). Yes, some designs perform better than others (which we can measure in clinical settings), but for the most part you should be able to move a patient from one design to another without too much difficulty. Moving from Varilux Panamic to Varilux Physio should be especially easy for most patients (but I'll put "most patients" in there, because we do notice there are always a small percentage of patients who defy every expectation- even in tightly controlled environments). That specific conversion has been studied and most Varilux Panamic wearers report better vision with Varilux Physio on numerous measures.

    I'm not sure what looking at contour plots of two lenses is supposed to accomplish. I'm not disparaging anyone who suggests doing so- I just know from experience that there is absolutely NO link between the appearance of a contour plot and the performance of a lens. Over the past 3 years, I've conducted extensive comparisons of dozens of designs (I used to run plots of the lenses beforehand to spot "expected findings"). I don't bother running the plots anymore- because they're literally meaningless. I can show you a plot that looks like it has a huge distance area compared to another that appears to have considerable astigmatism in the distance- and yet the second lens will be preferred for distance width and sharpness (and vice versa). Likewise, I can take two lenses that appear quite similar on a contour plot and they will be perceived to be quite different by real life wearers. The contour plot doesn't show a lot of the data necessary to really evaluate the performance of the lens (wish it did, life would be a lot easier).

  13. #13
    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nowhereville
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    7,765
    Pete,

    The contour plots do show a lot of information that is relevent. For instance the highest level of distortion, softer designs vs harder designs. In the case of zeiss lenses the focus on reduction of RMS. True minimum segment heights can be determined through maps. Asymmetry can be seen through maps. With a little practice you can almost immediately tell if the design is current or and older or should I say classical design. What they don't do is predict patient satisfaction and that's a shame since I think we would all love to be able to look at anything and immediately know what the patients going to adjust to the best. The search for the magic bullet goes on, but maps can be a great tool in selection of a proper design.

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    washington
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,916
    I've always considered the panamic to be optical crack. once a pt starts, you can never get them out of the darn things.

  15. #15
    OptiBoardaholic
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    285
    Funny, I've always looked at the Natural/Comfort the same way. It's like, good lord, let me give you a modern lens!

  16. #16
    OptiBoard Professional shannon's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Montgomery, Alabama, United States
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    177
    Panamic has been my go to lens for years....with that being said....we know it it leaving us....sniff. On the brighter side....there are so many more newer desings (I know, I know...newer doesn't mean better). However I have found that once it is explained to the patinet that you don't want to put them into to something that will be obsolete in a year or so, I think (hope) they will thank you for not putting them back into it. You have so many fantastic options available....check with lensguru.com for some comparisions...cross your fingers and take the plunge! My 2 cents....which in todays economy is worth no more that 1 cent! You are the professional, trust you r judgement!!! :)


    A man went to an eye specialist to get his eyes tested and asked, "Doctor, will I be able to read after wearing glasses?"
    "Yes, of course," said the doctor, "why not!"
    "Oh! How nice it would be," said the patient with joy, "I have been illiterate for so long."


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. A lens for for a color blind patient???
    By ArielJG in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-18-2008, 09:07 PM
  2. Looking for a discontinued Lens Blank
    By Matthew in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-01-2008, 03:28 PM
  3. patient not adapting to lens
    By fsicare1 in forum Progressive Lens Discussion Forum
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: 02-22-2008, 08:37 AM
  4. how we recommend patient need transitions lens??
    By cnet_baby in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-04-2006, 12:38 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •