CONTACT LENSES TODAY

January 5, 2003

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches 9,209 readers in 74 countries.


Restasis Approved for Dry Eye Relief
The FDA recently approved Allergan, Inc.'s cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, 0.05% (Restasis) to treat patients who have chronic dry eye disease and whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed because of ocular inflammation. In pivotal Phase III studies Restasis demonstrated statistically significant and clinically relevant increases in Schirmer wetting versus vehicle at six months. Allergan plans to launch Restasis in the second quarter of 2003. For more information visit http://www.restasis.com.

Study Finds Lutein No Different Than Placebo
A research team from Pacific University randomly assigned 45 healthy young adults to take either lutein supplements or an inactive placebo. After six months of daily supplementation with lutein, the researchers found no increase in pigment density in the group that took the lutein compared to the group that took the placebo. The researchers admit that lutein may not increase pigment in people who already have adequate amounts but that it may help those who have a deficiency. Contrary to the conclusive results of other studies, these researchers also found no difference in the ability of men vs. women to metabolize lutein.

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Interferometry More Precise Than Pachymetry
Researchers from the Ohio State University College of Optometry recently reported their findings in evaluating an interferometric method for measuring the thickness of the pre- and postlens tear film in subjects wearing hydrogel contact lenses. They measured and recorded 20 reflectance spectra (562 nm to 1030 nm) at normal incidence from each of 12 subjects wearing hydrogel contact lenses. Researchers concluded that prelens tear thickness was in reasonable agreement with prior measurements but that postlens tear thickness was much less than the 11 to 12 microm found by the pachymetric method. They argue that interferometry avoids some of the systematic errors of pachymetry and has higher precision.

Abstract: Contact Lenses Reduced Epithelial Sloughing
Short-term low and medium oxygen transmissibility RGP extended wear reduces the movement of basal epithelial cells toward the corneal surface. (Previous studies indicate all contact lens wear causes these changes.)
Ladage, P; et al. Vertical Movement of Epithelial Basal Cells Toward the Corneal Surface During Extended Contact Lens Wear. Optometry and Vision Science; 79(125):7(2002)


Editor's Commentary: Falling Back on My Contact Lenses
I enjoyed my visit to the NCAA National Championship (american football) game -- the Fiesta Bowl -- this past week. I was in the sun a lot and needed to wear my really cool sunglasses. I was also at the pool frequently and doing a lot of sporting activities, so I had to wear my contact lenses more than usual. Sure, most days of my life I don't wear contact lenses because of dryness and I often use my unaided near vision. But when I go to football games or participate in sports myself, I sure am glad I have them.

Fitting Tip: Keeping Patients Loyal in Soft Torics
I read your tip to use GPs. Why are you always driving the message to fit GPs? To counter your fit, I have been fitting one of my most loyal patients in a -17.00 -3.50 x 130 soft toric for years. She was never happy with GPs because of comfort and not as good peripheral vision. Now don't get me wrong, I use GPs but for your loyalty issue, I believe my soft contact lens patients are just as loyal and return to my office for care twice, if not three times as often. How many times have you not seen your GP patients for several years because they didn't need new lenses?

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