CONTACT LENSES TODAY

January 13, 2008

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Carla Mack and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 14,000 readers in 74 countries.

Consumers Who Purchase Contact Lenses Online Face Greater Eye Health Risks
A new study reported in the January issue of Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association, indicates that internet lens purchasers typically don't follow their eye doctor's recommendations, potentially placing them at greater risk for harmful eye care practices and eye health complications. The research was conducted by Joshua Fogel, Ph.D., and Chaya Zidile of Brooklyn College. The study included 151 students from the university who were contact lens wearers.
     The findings indicated that online and store purchasers (consumers who get their contacts at a wholesale club or optical chain outlet) are less likely to adhere to healthy eye care practices, as recommended by their eye doctor. "We found that a pattern exists regarding the method of contact lens purchasing and following recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)," said Dr. Fogel. "Those who bought contact lenses at their doctor's office followed a number of FDA recommendations more so than those who bought contact lenses elsewhere."
     The study, which researched the purchasing and eye care behaviors of contact lens wearers, found that 86 percent of individuals who purchased their lenses from an eye doctor received a yearly comprehensive eye examination. But, only 76.5 percent of those individuals who purchased their lenses via the Internet saw an eye doctor on a routine basis. Also, despite potential uncomfortable side effects, 35 percent of online purchasers did not check that the order matched their prescription.
     One of the largest discrepancies found between in-office and out-of-office contact lens purchases was seen in the number of individuals who saw an eye doctor for a follow-up appointment to ensure the proper fit of their lenses. Fifty-seven percent of individuals who purchased their lenses from an eye doctor went in for a follow-up appointment, as compared to only 29 percent of online purchasers.
WaveTouch Technologies Names New Management Team
John Ferro has been appointed chief executive officer of contact lens supplier WaveTouch Technologies. Mr. Ferro will be fully responsible for the commercialization of the company's wavefront-guided contact lens programs along with the day-to-day requirements of running its other contact lens and research businesses.
     Kevin Bligh, a founder of the company, has been appointed executive vice president, with primary responsibilities in the areas of business development, sales and marketing. Malcolm McLaughlin, another WaveTouch founder, continues as chief financial officer. Sandra Zuccaro-Keyes, a licensed master optician, was named executive director of professional services and Gary Klein, O.D., currently in private practice in San Diego, has been retained as clinical research consultant.
Increased Comfort Delivers Lasting Patient Satisfaction
Nothing drives referrals like satisfied patients. And nothing satisfies patients like the comfort and minimal corneal staining that can be provided by ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus. In a recent clinical study, new wearers exhibited no significant difference in corneal staining and reported no significant difference in overall comfort between ACUVUE® OASYS™ and no lens. And in an in-market trial, 89% of patients fit with ACUVUE® OASYS™ would recommend their doctors based on their experience. How will you satisfy your patients and build your practice with ACUVUE® OASYS™?
More About ACUVUE® OASYS®
Important Safety Information
--ADVERTISING
New Essilor Foundation Targets Children's Vision Problems
Essilor of America has created a public, non-profit foundation dedicated to helping people in need obtain access to vision care. Known as the Essilor Vision Foundation, it will help people achieve better lives through better sight by creating and supporting activities that advance good vision and its benefits, and offering special help to those who need it most, according to Essilor executives.
     The new foundation, based in Dallas, will concentrate its initial efforts on U.S. school children. Its first program focuses on educating parents about the need for annual eye examinations for children through a partnership with schools in Tarrant County, Texas. The foundation also plans to work closely with other non-profit organizations such as Lions Clubs International, to find ways to help families pay for eye examinations and receive eyeglasses that they might not otherwise be able to afford.
     "Studies show that one in four children in the U.S. have a vision problem that their parents aren't aware of," said Audrey Reed, an Essilor executive who has been named executive director of the foundation. "It affects their reading, learning and behavior in the classroom. Research suggests the percentage of inner-city children with uncorrected vision problems is as high as 50 percent. We are developing programs to address these issues so all children, regardless of their ethnic background or financial status, have an equal chance to learn and become productive members of society."
     Essilor has donated $2 million in seed money to the foundation. More information is available through the foundation's Web site, www.essilorvisionfoundation.org.
TLCVision Announces New President, Refractive Centers
TLCVision Corporation announced that Larry D. Hohl will join the company as President, Refractive Centers effective January 14, 2008. He will report to Jim Wachtman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hohl will have responsibility for all of TLCVision's refractive centers business functions, including sales, marketing, operations, clinical services and professional relations. Mr. Hohl joins TLCVision with more than 30 years of operations management experience as well as extensive sales and marketing experience.
     Michael F. McEnaney, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of TLCVision, will be leaving the company, however as a Partner he will continue to work on projects with TLCVision in the future. Marketing responsibilities for the company will be handled by Vice President, Marketing, Beth Rogers and Vice President, Professional Relations, Jim Brocato. Ms. Rogers joined TLCVision in May 2007, and working closely with Mr. McEnaney, has been largely responsible for the successful implementation of TLCVision's direct-to-consumer marketing approach.
Global Keratoconus Congress 2007 – Early Registration Discount Deadline
Don’t forget to register for the second Global Keratoconus Congress at the discounted rate! The early registration discount deadline is January 4! This educational event will be held January 25-27, 2008 at Bally’s in Las Vegas. Please visit http://www.GKCongress.com. There you will find the most up-to-date educational program agenda and information on hotel accommodations, as well as the ability to register for the event and information for making your hotel reservations.
     Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Heather Seasholtz at 215-643-8073.
--ADVERTISING
Abstract: Applanation Tonometry in Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Wearers
Previous studies have investigated intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements through conventional soft (hydrogel) therapeutic contact lenses, and have found that an accurate IOP can be recorded in normal eyes, and in eyes with abnormal anterior segments. The IOP measurement through soft contact lenses may be affected by the water content and center thickness of the lens. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are now being used as therapeutic contact lenses due to their high oxygen permeability. The purpose of this study from the UK was to investigate if IOP can be accurately measured in a subject wearing a silicone hydrogel contact lens.
     In a cohort study, the IOP was measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer without a contact lens and then repeated with a hydrogel contact lens in situ. The IOP of 20 eyes of 10 volunteers with no ocular pathology was measured. The mean difference (+/-S.D.) found between IOP measurement with (mean 15.55+/-1.70mmHg) and without (mean 16.05+/-1.90mmHg) contact lens was found to be -0.5+/-0.89mmHg. Statistical analysis was performed which revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.89. No significant statistical difference was found between the two groups with paired t-test (p=0.19).
     The authors concluded that accurate measurement of IOP by applanation tonometry can be achieved through a silicone hydrogel contact lens.
Allen RJ, Dev Borman A, Saleh GM. Applanation tonometry in silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2007 Dec;30(5):267-9. Epub 2007 Mar 26.
Editor's Commentary: Do the Right Thing
Last week's Contact Lenses Today had a news segment on January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month. I've chosen abstracts for this week and last week on the topic of contact lenses and IOP measurements to go with that theme. Some of you may know that, in addition to teaching a course on specialty contact lens fitting at Ohio State, I also teach a course on glaucoma management. Though we provide specialty contact lens consultations for referring eye care providers, like many of you, at Ohio State we consider our practice to be primary eye care. It is important to remember that even if you are only providing part of the patient's care like the contact lens fitting, you must ensure that the patient is receiving comprehensive eye examinations. It is best to obtain copies of those examinations for your documentation. The number one reason for litigation with glaucoma patients is failure to diagnose which means practitioners failed to dilate and document structural and functional changes. I recently fitted a GP monovision patient who also had a trabeculectomy and was referred for the contact lens fitting only by our local Veteran's Affairs outpatient facility. I did request this patient's records, not because I did not trust the patient or our VA colleagues but because it was the right thing to do.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org consider whether silicone hydrogels require one or more unique FDA class(es); review the case of a pediatric patient successfully fit with silicone hydrogels after a diagnosis of unilateral congenital cataract; read about a study designed to determine the quantity and identity of protein deposited on silicone hydrogel lenses; and review the latest silicone hydrogel research in part two of our synopsis of the 2007 BCLA meeting.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com. Your tip may be selected as best of the month. See http://www.CLToday.com for details. Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country. 
For more information on Contact Lenses Today including archives of previous issues or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit our website at www.cltoday.com.
For the latest articles on contact lenses, important clinical information and helpful tools related to the contact lens practice go to www.clspectrum.com.
CLToday Services: Subscribe; Unsubscribe; submit news to news@cltoday.com; or, fax 1-215-643-3902.
Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. ©2008 Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc.
This has been a LWW e-mail communication. If you prefer not to receive e-mail from us, please use the following link
to remove your e-mail address from our list: Removal Request | View our Privacy Policy

You are receiving this e-mail because you have agreed to receive e-mail communications from Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc.
Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. - 1300 Virginia Drive Suite 400 Fort Washington PA 19034 | 215-643-8000
Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. e-mail program complies with the Federal Can-Spam Act of 2003

Please take a moment to make sure your newsletters don't get marked as spam.
Add cltoday@lwwvisioncare-media.com to your 'approved senders' list or address book.