2023 Myers Lecture: Dr. Edward S. Bennett
Edward S. Bennett, OD, was the 2023 Jeffrey and Joyce Myers Lecturer. Dr. Bennett, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry and President and Executive Director of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI), presented “Contact Lenses: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” on December 6, 2023.
As a co-author of Clinical Contact Lens Practice – arguably the most influential contact lens textbook – among 13 other contact lens textbooks, Dr. Bennett spoke about the evolution of gas permeable (GP) contact lenses through personal reflections and research.
Dr. Bennett’s knowledge of GP contact lens wear spanned from issues related to refitting PMMA contact lens wearers with GP materials to lens settling after scleral contact lens fitting. He spoke about the value of perseverance. After initially receiving a “reject” letter from a school of optometry, he eventually gave a copy of his first textbook to the person who ultimately gave him a chance to be an optometrist. He also talked about leadership, including his mentor – past Myers lecturer Dr. Irvin Borish – who introduced him to contact lens research and allowed him to be the Director of the new Contact Lens Clinic at Indiana University, which enhanced his teaching and leadership experience.
To see their edema go away underneath a gas permeable lens was magical and you just really get hooked on it and realize how fortunate you are to be in the position where you can do clinical research in that area.
Dr. Bennett provided a number of clinical pearls, all with the caveat that you shouldn’t accept dogma. Just because we’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it is the best way. Scientific evidence provides the best indication for clinical care. His research indicated the following, among many other things:
- That’s fitting: GP lens edge lift and centration are important for corneal integrity
- Grind it in: abrasive cleaners can change the power of GP contact lenses
- A lens in the hand: clean GP lenses in the palm of the hand, not between finger tips
- Cleanliness is healthiness: GP contact lens materials harbor far fewer microbes than soft contact lenses
- Bigger is better: lens diameter is the most important factor in comfort of GP contact lenses
- Message matters: positive messages provide better GP adaptation
- Deadening effect: anesthetic drops during fitting and dispensing of GP lenses improves adaptation
- Two eyes are better than one: GP multifocals provide better vision than monovision
- Settle down: you need 200 microns of corneal clearance with scleral contact lenses to avoid central touch
It was a thrill to hear from the Deity of GP contact lenses! Dr. Bennett’s advice to young optometrists was to identify mentors who can help you in various areas of optometric passion. I couldn’t agree more, mostly because he is a mentor and friend – of mine.
The Jeffrey and Joyce Myers Lecture Series was established through a gift from Dr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Joyce Myers to feature a guest speaker with special expertise across the domains of optometry and vision science. Their continued support of the lecture series allows us to learn from the icons of optometry and provides a rich history of optometric evolution.
