WASHINGTON, D.C.—Former professional football referee and current television rules analyst Gene Steratore is teaming up with the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) to promote healthy contact lens wear and care, the organization announced. In a new video timed to the start of football season, the broadcaster encourages eyecare professionals to use The EASY Way (Eyes, Awareness, Safety and You) when speaking with soft contact lens patients. The video will appear on major social media platforms over the next month, the organization said, and is available on YouTube.

“For your contact lens patients, following a few rules and instructions helps them achieve healthy and comfortable wear and care," said Steratore. "But take it from me… people can’t always follow what they don’t understand. That’s why the Contact Lens Institute introduced The EASY Way—three simple steps to improve their experience. For a guy whose life has been built around rules, there are few guidelines simpler than this.”

Steratore was a professional football referee from 2003 to 2018 and a Division 1 college basketball referee from 1997 to 2018. Following his retirement from both sports, he has been a prominent game day rules authority for a major U.S. broadcasting network. His spot joins the recently produced EASY as 1-2-3 video series that features 18 prominent members of the eyecare community calling on their colleagues to adopt the approach.

 
 Former professional football referee and current television rules analyst Gene Steratore is teaming with the Contact Lens Institute to promote healthy contact lens wear and care.
  
Now in its fourth year, The EASY Way is used by eyecare practices across the U.S., Canada and worldwide. It includes simplified tips, infographics, and companion digital resources for use in practices, presented in a straightforward way. All components are available for free download within The EASY Way resource page. At the center of the program are three easy steps to rely to patients:

1. Think Clean. Wash and dry your hands every time before touching your lenses or eyes. If you wear reusable lenses, always clean and disinfect them with each removal, and clean your lens case as directed. Keep your lenses and case away from any type of water, which can contain harmful microorganisms.

2. Remember Fresher is Better. Wear your contacts for only as long as your eyecare professional says, replacing them with fresh lenses on schedule. Only wear daily disposable lenses once, and always rely on new solution for reusable lens disinfection and storage. Replace your lens case at least every three months.

3. Trust Your Eye Doctor. Listen to your eyecare professional, who has specialized training. If you have any questions, contact their office—they care about your health and great vision.

The Contact Lens Institute advances the latest innovations in safe and effective contact lens and lens care products and services that provide benefits to patients while satisfying the evolving needs of eyecare professionals. Its members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision and Johnson & Johnson Vision.