CORE launches searchable contact lens database in US

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Optometrist holds a contact lens case as he looks at a laptop
For the first time, the searchable contact lens database for eye care practitioners—the Contact Lens Compendium—is accessible in the United States. With the launch of the US version, eye care providers (ECPs) now have free access to up-to-date listing of contact lens products, including the latest lens parameters, solutions, and rewetting drops currently available on the American market.

Maintained by the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo, this vital resource is updated regularly online and offers a variety of search options for product filtering and comparison, enabling practitioners to easily find suitable products for their patients. Manufacturers are also able to log in to update product information directly. The project is a resource of Contact Lens Update.

With a few keystrokes, ECPs can quickly find and compare contact lenses and solutions. For instance, a fitter can pull up silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens options for a patient with a -8.00 D prescription in seconds, or query all monthly hydrogels for a hyperopic astigmat of +4.00/-2.25 x 35. The advanced search function enables exact parameters to be used, saving time and presenting perhaps otherwise overlooked possibilities.

Compendium has long been available for the Canadian market in both print and online formats. The online version has become a valuable resource for thousands of Canadian optometrists.

“As we’ve seen online usage of Compendium grow in Canada, we’ve heard from practitioners that it is their go-to resource for contact lens product information,” says Sarah Guthrie, Senior Research Scientist at CORE. “We wanted to bring that same comprehensive online reference for lenses and solutions to optometrists in the U.S.”

A U.S. print version will be updated annually and is available for either free download or bound hard copy purchase at https://compendium.contactlensupdate.com/us/print_version.

- CORE media release