CONTACT LENSES TODAY
January 22, 2006
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.
1-800 Legislation would Restrict CLs in Indiana
Retailer 1-800 Contacts has proposed legislation in Indiana that would limit optometrists’ ability to choose the lenses they
prescribe. House Bill 1308 titled, Restraint on trade of contact lenses, would require all contact lens manufacturers to certify annually with the state
board that their lenses are available to “all channels of distribution.” Under the bill, anyone who dispenses lenses that are not on the list maintained
by the board would be subject to a $5,000 fine and up to one year in prison.
The Indiana Optometric Association (IOA) opposes the bill, saying it is
not based on health or safety concerns, but on protecting one company’s market share. In a public policy statement, the IOA says, “The issue at hand is a
business issue between 1(800) Contacts and the national manufacturers of contacts.” The statement further explains that it’s unlikely that all 80 contact
lens manufacturers will go through the process of certifying their brands with the state of Indiana, making some lenses unavailable to patients in
that state.
At press time, the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing.
CooperVision Launches New CL
The Biomedics XC is CooperVision’s latest addition to its PC Hydrogels family. The aspheric lens is made of omafilcon A, a
biocompatible lens material that the company says attracts water. It’s approved for daily wear and recommended for two-week replacement. The FDA has
approved labeling that indicates the lens “may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to
dryness during lens wear."
Seniordoc Becomes ODWire
The optometric community web site Seniordoc.org has undergone a major upgrade and changed its name to ODwire.org. The new
name is a reflection of the site’s membership; though many older clinicians are active members, the majority of its users graduated after 1985. The site
offers message forums, a real-time chat area, and article and photo archive sections.
ODwire is currently the largest online community limited to
optometry, with over 3,500 O.D. members. All O.D.s and optometry students are invited to join
at http://www.odwire.org.
Real-world feedback from eye care professionals now supports pre-launch claims of ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact
Lenses for ASTIGMATISM.
When compared to Soflens66® Toric, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM clearly provides more predictable
orientation and crisper, more stable vision; the advantage comes from the Accelerated Stabilization Design. Less lid interaction leads to superior
performance versus the traditional prism-ballast design such as found in Soflens66® Toric. Also, because of HYDRACLEAR™ Technology, the lens
delivers significantly better comfort both upon insertion and at the end of the day.
--ADVERTISING
Diabetes Linked to Keratoconus Severity
A study published in this month’s Ophthalmology investigates whether there is an association between diabetes
mellitus (DM) and keratoconus. Researchers at Wilmer Eye Institute’s Department of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore retrospectively
compared the number of keratoconus patients with DM with the overall number of patients with DM. They found no difference in the prevalence of DM in
keratoconus patients and those without keratoconus. There was also no difference in the prevalence of DM in keratoconus patients and those without
keratoconus undergoing PK. They did find the presence of DM decreases the odds of having more severe keratoconus.
Abstract:
Cosmetic CLs Carry Serious Consequences
Researchers at Wake Forest University’s Department of Ophthalmology in Winton Salem, N.C. report a case of Acanthamoeba
keratitis caused by cosmetic lenses. A 26-year-old man developed Acanthamoeba keratitis after purchasing a cosmetic contact lens from an unlicensed
vendor. The patient ultimately required a penetrating keratoplasty. He subsequently developed angle-closure glaucoma that required trabeculectomy. The
authors conclude this case shows the potential ocular damage involved with unauthorized sale of cosmetic contact lenses.
Gagnon MR, Walter KA.
A case of Acanthamoeba keratitis as a result of a cosmetic contact lens. Eye Contact Lens. 2006 Jan;32(1):37-8.
Editor's Commentary:
What’s Your Comfort Level?
I've been fortunate in my career to work with surface chemists and material/polymer chemists to an extent most eye care
practitioners have not. In this day and age of new contact lens, lens care and dry eye products, I feel comfortable that I understand manufacturer claims
about their products’ wetting, drying, and contamination data. Are you? I'd really like to know what information you need about contact lens wetting and
surface interactions. Send us your questions and we'll try to get you some fundamental answers. I think it will be good for all of us.
Fitting Tip:
Going the Extra Mile
I'm retired, but I must share this tip because I believe that it made my CL patients very comfortable. I gave them my home
phone number and told them to call if they had a problem or a question. The look of relief on their faces could not be described adequately.
Some
colleagues thought I was crazy to give out my home number because I would be besieged with crank calls. In all my years in practice, I can recall only
one stupid call. All of the others (very few) were legitimate questions that I could generally answer over the phone, making the patient feel comfortable.
Very occasionally, I did meet them at the office after hours to remove a lens or attend to a legitimate complaint. Every call to me started, “I really hate
to bother you doctor, but...."
I hope that our younger-generation O.D.s don't find this personal relationship with their patients beneath their
dignity!
Mel Schrier, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, track worldwide trends in silicone hydrogel fitting;
examine the dynamic mechanical properties, dynamic wettability and frictional properties of these lenses; read up on successful clinical strategies for
maintaining patients‚ comfort and ocular health with extended wear; and review new developments and information that came to light in 2005.
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.
Send
your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a
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