This year, Contact Lens Spectrum (CLS) is working with Eurolens Research in conducting a survey to investigate the current state of contact lens prescribing in the United States. To best judge current day trends, CLS is making the survey questionnaire available to Contact Lenses Today subscribers from the United States who fit contact lenses. 
     The questionnaire has been designed to be simple to complete so that we get the most information without unreasonably imposing on your professional time. Please fill in the details of the next ten patients you fit with contact lenses. As you will see, the responses we seek are subdivided into various categories, and we need data for each category. 
     To download the form, please visit www.cltoday.com/USsurvey2009.doc. After clicking the link you will be prompted to Open or Save the document. Please save the document to your computer. Later, you can fill in your data and save the information at your convenience.
     Please complete the form only if you practice in the United States. When you have completed the ten patients, please email the form to Lisa Starcher at lisa.starcher@wolterskluwer.com or fax the completed form to 215-827-5390 no later than May 15, 2009. Please return the form by this date even if you have not fit ten patients by this time. The results will be published in the January 2010 Contact Lens Spectrum article titled "International Contact Lens Prescribing in 2009." You will be automatically entered into a drawing to receive one of six $50 American Express Gift Checks for returning a completed survey. Simply include your full contact information with your email or fax to be entered into the drawing. Be assured that your personal information will remain confidential and will only be used for the drawing.
     Many thanks in anticipation of your assistance with this important work. If you have any questions, please call Lisa Starcher at 215-367-2168.

Vistakon, a Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., announced the launch of Acuvue Direct, a new service designed to enhance patient convenience, improve patients' compliance and drive health education.
     Vistakon reports that their market research has shown that for many patients the one-time cost of an annual supply of contact lenses is simply more than they can afford, especially during these challenging economic times. Acuvue Direct lets them spread the financial commitment out over four equal payments during the year while still being able to take advantage of cost-saving rebates.
     After signing up for the program at their provider's office, patients automatically receive a three-month supply of their prescribed Acuvue Brand Contact Lenses at quarterly intervals, along with a fresh contact lens case for two week lens wearers to encourage good lens care habits, and a reminder about their wearing schedule. During the final shipment the patient is prompted to return back to their provider's office for an annual exam. With each shipment, the patient's credit card is charged for one-fourth the cost of the annual supply, with the payment remitted to the doctor's office. Credit card validation is automatically handled by an independent third party vendor on behalf of the doctor, so the doctor doesn't have to worry about verifying payment information each quarter. All patient financial information is sent through a security portal not visible to Vistakon.
     Each month, participating doctors receive a report and invoice for the lenses that were shipped out that month, notice of cancelled or postponed orders, and a list of patients nearing their prescription expiration. Although patients can postpone a shipment, they can't order any lenses beyond the expiration of their prescription. 
     "If Acuvue Direct can help my patients be more compliant, have healthier eyes, and increase their likelihood of making an annual purchase, I'm in favor of it," says Ann Hoscheit, OD, FAAO of Summit Eye Associates in Gastonia, N.C. "In the current economic climate, it may be more important than ever for us to help patients afford the best care for their eyes." 
     To learn more and register your practice, visit www.jnjvisioncare.com/goacuvuedirect.

The Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) announced that the GP Eye Care Professional Locator is now available at www.contactlenses.org, a popular consumer website. The purpose of the GP Eye Care Professional Locator is to help consumers who wish to locate an eye care practitioner in their area of the United States who prescribes a variety of specialty GP contact lenses.
     Mr. Chris Pantle, President of the CLMA commented, "The CLMA is excited about the launch of our GP Eye Care Professional Locator, which enables consumers to locate an eye care practitioner by entering their zip code or state. At the site, consumers can also research contact lenses in specialized modalities that they are most interested in."
     The website receives approximately 10,000 unique visitors each month, with the top two most researched subjects being: Multifocal & Bifocal Contact Lenses and What are GP Lenses?
     Eye care practitioners in the US are invited to participate and add their information to the GP Eye Care Professional Locator. To register, visit: www.gpli.info. Click on the link: Request your free listing in the new GP Eye Care Professional Locator. Complete the form and select your area(s) of expertise: General GP Eye Care Professional, Bifocals/Multifocals, Irregular Corneal Conditions (Keratoconus, Post Surgical, Pellucid, etc.) and Corneal Reshaping/Orthokeratology. ECPs may also include an email address or link to their practice's website.

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The first meeting of the National Steering Committee on Optometric Guidelines for Educational Support took place last month in Chicago Illinois. The Committee consists of representatives from the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, the Association of Regulatory Boards in Optometry, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, SECO International, LLC, Allergan, Essilor of America, USA and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. The purpose of the Committee is to develop guidelines for optometric continuing education, including issues related to industry support, disclosure and advertising.
     The first meeting included a presentation from the American Council for Continuing Medical Education on their standards for commercial support to ensure the independence of continuing education activities from commercial support. The Committee also reviewed guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education.
     After drafting initial guidelines, the Steering Committee will reconvene during SECO 2009 with the goal of establishing Support and Disclosure Policies for the profession of optometry.
     The committee welcomes input and may be contacted at nscoges@aol.com.

SynergEyes, Inc., the high Dk hybrid contact lens manufacturer, has expanded the parameters of the SynergEyes Multifocal hybrid contact lens for presbyopia and the SynergEyes PS hybrid lens for post-surgical patients.
     The SynergEyes Multifocal lens is now available in sphere powers from +5.00D to -8.00D in .25D steps, -8.50D to -20.00D in 0.50D steps. SynergEyes Multifocal custom base curves of 7.0mm, 8.1mm and 8.2mm, and skirt curvatures of 0.7mm and 1.6mm are also now available. SynergEyes PS is now available in sphere powers from +6.00D to -8.00 D in 0.25D steps, and -8.50D to -12.00D in 0.50D steps and in base curves from 7.2mm to 9.00mm in 0.20mm steps.
     For more information, visit www.SynergEyes.com. 

In 2008 Alcon partnered with Package Brigade, an organization that coordinates the distribution of care packages to troops throughout the world. Besides providing toiletries, snacks and other supplies, children are able to write to the troops thanking them for their service. Included in these care packages are bottles of Systane to help service men and women deal with harsh climate conditions that affect their eyes on a daily basis. Last year alone, more than 800 bottles of Systane were donated to Package Brigade.
     "The care packages are an excellent way to show our troops we care and we are happy to be a part of it," said Kim Fisher, Marketing Manager for Systane. "It has always been an important part of the Alcon culture to give back and support organizations that share our mission."
     Alcon has supported organizations like Package Brigade that help to reach those in need of eye care for years. In fact, last year Alcon donated over $464,000 through its Foundation and other corporate giving programs to optometric organizations including charities such as the AOA Foundation, Prevent Blindness America and VOSH to improve access to vision exams for uninsured and low income patients. Alcon also sponsors and supports educational programs such as residency training, graduate sub-specialty programs and the ongoing preparation of future optometrists.
     For more information about Alcon's humanitarian efforts and how you can get involved, visit www.alcon.com/corporate-responsibility.

This study evaluates the relationship between bulbar hyperemia, conjunctival staining, lens comfort and 3- and 9-o'clock corneal staining in rigid gas permeable (GP) contact lens wear.The study involved 55 GP contact lens wearers (with and without 3- and 9-o'clock staining) and 26 non-lens wearers. Corneal staining was graded based on a specially designed image grading scale developed at the University of Maastricht. The Efron grading scale was used to grade bulbar hyperemia and conjunctival staining. Ocular comfort and lens comfort were analyzed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a questionnaire to differentiate symptomatic from asymptomatic subjects.
     Bulbar hyperemia showed a significant but low correlation with corneal staining, and eyes with conjunctival staining showed more corneal staining than eyes without conjunctival staining. No correlation was found between staining in the nasal and temporal regions of the cornea in subjects with substantial 3- and 9-o'clock staining. No correlation was found between VAS comfort scores and corneal staining. In those subjects with substantial 3- and 9-o'clock staining, symptomatic subjects showed more corneal staining than asymptomatic subjects.
     In conclusion, the authors advise practitioners to evaluate both the nasal and temporal regions of the cornea when assessing 3- and 9-o'clock staining, and be hesitant to rely on the amount of bulbar hyperemia for the prediction of the severity of 3- and 9-o'clock staining. Assessment of conjunctival staining could potentially be a useful tool in clinical practice to identify patients at risk of developing 3- and 9-o'clock staining. The lack of correlation between corneal staining and lens comfort stresses the need for regular contact lens check-ups in GP lens wearers. It appears that the simple registration of the presence or absence of ocular symptoms is a better predictor of 3- and 9-o'clock staining than using VAS comfort scores.
van der Worp EJ, de Brabander J, Swarbrick HA, Hendrikse F. Evaluation of Signs and Symptoms in 3- and 9-O'clock Staining. Optom Vis Sci 2009.

At the beginning of each year, it has become a tradition for us to report on data we collect for the prior year that evaluates trends in the industry. We also work with Dr. Phil Morgan of Eurolens Research to conduct a worldwide survey in this regard. We often receive numerous accolades regarding the importance of these publications and generally receive lots of good feedback about their content. However, your participation in these surveys is vital to their continued success. Please see our lead story and consider helping with our current survey, which is available now on our website.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: Using silicone hydrogels to mask irregular astigmatism; the relationship between oxygen transmissibility and overnight corneal swelling; and part one of our BCLA 2008 synopsis.