CONTACT LENSES TODAY
January 21, 2007
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.
CooperVision Introduces Clear-Sight 1-Day
CooperVision has introduced the ClearSight 1-Day line of daily disposable contact lenses with a 52% water content. The company says these lenses feature a thinner lens design that minimizes lid interaction to ensure comfort. The lenses are also designed with a light blue visibility tint and come in an ergonomically designed blister pack for easier opening, according to the company. ClearSight 1-Day lenses are available in sphere powers of 6.00D to -10.00D in .50 steps above 5.00D and -6.00D with an 8.7mm base curve, 14.2mm diameter and a center thickness of 0.07mm at -3.00D.
Children’s Vision Bill Introduced
Identical versions of the “Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007” have been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide federal grants to states to provide eye exams and follow-up treatment services to children identified through a vision screening or eye exam. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in three children receive eye care services before the age of six, while one in four preschoolers has a vision problem.
The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) and Christopher Dodd (D-Ct.) and in the House by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Ileana Rose-Lehiten (R-Fla.) and John Sullivan (R.-Okla.). It is supported by the Vision Council of America (VCA), American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and prevent Blindness America (PBA).
AMO Acquires WaveFront Sciences
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) announced the acquisition of Albuquerque, N.M.-based WaveFront Sciences Inc., a provider of proprietary wavefront diagnostic systems for refractive surgery and medical research. WaveFront designs and manufacturers what is says it the industry’s highest resolution Shack-Hartmann-based aberrometer as part of the wavefront-guided, custom laser vision correction procedure.
Are your patients’ lenses lying down on the job?
Gravity tends to rotate some toric contact lenses, which can cause fluctuating vision. ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM seem to defy gravity. The unique design of the ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand for ASTIGMATISM keeps it aligned even while your patient is lying down. In fact, 90% of patients in a clinical study reported the ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM “provides me with clear vision while lying down on the couch and watching TV.” The difference is Accelerated Stabilization Design: less interaction between lens and lid means more stability. And now, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM meets more patients' needs with the introduction of -2.25 cylinder.
--ADVERTISING
Global Keratoconus Congress 2007
There is still time to register for the inaugural Global Keratoconus Congress! This important, international event will be held January 26-28, 2007 at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The more than 350 current registrants hail from 29 different countries. Please visit http://www.GKC2007.com to register or view the most up-to-date educational program agenda, including free paper submissions and scientific posters; information on hotel accommodations; and a listing of the 30+ meeting sponsors and exhibitors. We look forward to seeing you there!
--ADVERTISING
Art Optical to Re-launch AKS System
Art Optical Contact Lens Inc. will re-launch its Art Keratoconic System (AKS) system at the Global Keratoconus in Las Vegas. The system features updated, tamper-evident packaging, easy to use fitting charts and the Optimum family of GP lens materials. All will be on display at the company’s exhibit and available for purchase at a discounted price during show hours. AKS will also be discussed at a breakfast seminar to be held of Saturday morning at 7:00am. Attendees will have a chance to win one of two AKS systems to be given away.
B&L Allies with AcuFocus
Bausch & Lomb (B&L) has made an equity investment in — and secured an exclusive option to purchase — AcuFocus Inc., an Irvine, Calif.-based company that is developing corneal inlay technology for the treatment of presbyopia. The AcuFocus ACI 7000 is designed to treat even those patients who have had cataract surgery. The inlay is implanted in the cornea under a LASIK flap in an outpatient procedure. The device incorporates technology that increases the patient’s depth of field, which the company says improves near vision. The manufacturer also says the procedure does not involve tissue removal or permanently alter the cornea, so pre-implant vision may be restored if the inlay is reversed.
Abstract:
CRT Post-Radial Keratometry
Researchers at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale recently presented a case in which the Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lens was prescribed for daily wear in the treatment of a patient after radial keratotomy. The CRT lens provided adequate visual acuity and satisfactory fairly wearing time without an adverse physiologic response. They conclude that this case illustrated an off-label use of the CRT lens to facilitate centration and provide a functional vision correction that enhanced a patient’s ability to participate in activities of daily living. They also say, while further investigation is necessary, the findings suggest these lenses provide a viable vision correction for patients who are dissatisfied with their post-surgical vision, particularly when satisfactory visual acuity cannot be achieved through conventional means.
Burns-Legros D, Wagner H. Paragon corneal refractive therapy lens prescribed for daily wear in a post-radial keratotomy patient. Eye Contact Lens. 2007 Jan;33(1):50-3.
Editor's Commentary:
Global Keratoconus Congress
Later this week, we will convene the Global Keratoconus Congress 2007 in Las Vegas. It's not too late to make plans to join nearly 400 attendees from nearly 30 countries to learn more about this complicated disease and it's treatment. We are very excited about the interest in this great event.
In addition, last week we included a statement about the passing of Neal Bailey. Thanks to the many of you who sent kind words about Neal. In our statement, there were a couple of errors. CLToday regrets those errors.
Fitting Tip:
More on Keeping Lenses Clean
Bravo for Dr. Dohm! (See, “Dirty Lenses,” CLToday, Jan. 14.)
I have seen traditional soft lens wearers go four years on a daily wear schedule with the same lenses in pristine condition. I’ve also seen patients on a bi-weekly replacement schedule change lenses of their own volition at 10 days because their comfort goes downhill.
On follow-up, I want to see clean lenses with movement, clear lids, no adverse corneal response and good vision in all lens wearers. I expect we all have seen patients who got four boxes of two-week lenses four years ago and are starting to run low on their supply. I advise those who have good comfort, clean lenses and clear eyes to replace their six pack of lenses after two months. I explain to them the “rule of three” (vision, comfort, appearance) and show them our GPC photo, explaining that multi-pack lenses were developed to prevent this kind of complication. Health and safety should be the mainstay of care.
Kerri Dietz Pillen, O.D.
Bellevue, Neb.
This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org, review the results of a study on non-compliance in contact lens wearers, learn about piggyback fittings of silicone hydrogels for post-surgical patients, consider the benefits and challenges of spherical lens, soft lenses and silicone hydrogel lenses for toric lens wearers, and evaluate the fitting practices of Canadian optometrists from 2000-2006.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
Access a reporting form for complications you've seen that were a result of contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescription at the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO's) Web site: http://www.arbo.org/arbo.asp?dt=R&doc=Complications. Complete and send the form online or print it out and fax it to (866) 886-6164.
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