Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc., provider of custom-designed gas permeable and soft contact lenses, announced the company has received ISO 13485:2003 certification. ISO 13485 is a world-recognized medical device quality system standard that is considered an important milestone in terms of global market expansion, and is currently the most stringent standard of quality control for medical devices, according to the company.
     According to Jill M. Anastor, Vice President of Operations at Art Optical, maintaining a world-class quality management system will remain a key strategic objective for Art Optical and its 80-plus employees. "The accreditation reflects our commitment to quality and is an important step in the overall development of our product strategy," Anastor noted. "ISO 13485 certification also allows us to cultivate new distributor and licensing agreements internationally, while sustaining, and possibly expanding, our manufacturing operation here in the U.S."

Cynacon/OcuSoft has introduced Tears Again Hydrate, specially formulated for the dietary management of dry eye syndrome, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction. According to the company, these easy-to-swallow soft gels contain the omega-3 fatty acid, flaxseed oil, and evening primrose oil, which contains the fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (omega-6). These essential fatty acids, combined with bilberry extract, are microencapsulated in a proprietary liposome process that the company states has been proven to enhance the absorption of orally administered ingredients for better bioavailability.
     The product is available by prescription only. Call 800-233-5469 or visit www.ocusoft.com for additional information.

In the February 15 issue of Contact Lenses Today we announced the Survey of Contact Lens Prescribing 2009 and requested participation. Although the article contained the correct fax number for submission of the data form, the fax number on the form was incorrect. The error has been corrected. If you downloaded the form and wish to fax in your data, please note the correct fax number is 215-827-5390. The new, corrected form is available for download at 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.
     We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call Lisa Starcher at 215-367-2168.

SECO International announced the recipients of its three prestigious 2009 awards, recognizing significant contributions to the profession of optometry. Martha Greenberg, OD was named Optometrist of the South, SECO's highest honor. In addition, Chevron Ergle, OD, receives SECO's Young Optometrist of the South award and Emily Ellison, LDO, CPOT, was named Paraoptometric of the South. 
     The awards will be presented to the recipients during the SECO International House of Delegates meeting on Friday, March 6 at 3:45 p.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.

Research suggests that many toric contact lens wearers are not satisfied with their visual performance. Make your patients' experience satisfying with new ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM. The latest in toric lenses combines HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort with Accelerated Stabilization Design for crisp, clear vision. To learn more, go to jnjvisioncare.com.
Important Safety Information
--ADVERTISING

LensAlert Contact Lens and Case Timers are now available at 100 Wal-Mart Vision Centers across the United States and all 168 Wal-Mart Vision Centers in Canada. Wal-Mart, the first national retailer to carry LensAlert products, joins a growing list of customers around the world. The company reports that over 800 independent optometrists in 13 countries have chosen to carry LensAlert, as well as eye care chains and online retailers.
     Invented by a patient whose doctor told him that he needed to start throwing away his lens cases on a scheduled basis, LensAlert includes a flashing display that notifies users when it's time to change lenses and lens cases. The LensAlert timer allows contact lens wearers to set their own replacement schedule depending on their doctor's instructions. The digital display separately tracks lenses and lens case and automatically counts down the days. When the display flashes "0" it's time for a change. The patented design easily fits the most popular contact lens cases.
     To learn more about LensAlert products and how you can offer them in your practice, please visit www.lensalert.com or call 314-721-5367.

Advanced Vision Research, maker of TheraTears and nutraceuticals for ocular health, announces the launch of MacuTrition eye vitamin and mineral supplement for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease. According to the company, MacuTrition is the first major oral nutritional supplement that addresses oxidation, inflammation and neovascularization, three very important processes that threaten long-term eye and general health, and play a key role in those at risk for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
     MacuTrition, available over-the-counter, is a peer-reviewed, science-based combination of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and anti-angiogenics, and includes updated AREDS antioxidants, fish-oil omega-3s, vitamin D, green tea extract and tocotrienols (a form of vitamin E).
     Information on the company and its products may be obtained by contacting Advanced Vision Research at 781-932-8327, by e-mail at info@theratears.com or by visiting www.macutrition.com or www.theratears.com.

BizBash, the leading trade magazine for the event industry, named International Vision Expo East as one of the top 100 annual events in New York in its latest issue. International Vision Expo East, co-owned by Reed Exhibitions and The Vision Council, came in ninth in the Trade Show and Conventions category. International Vision Expo East was chosen from the hundreds of thousands of events held annually in New York by consensus opinions from experts, as well as the BizBash editorial team.
     International Vision Expo East will be held March 27-29 this year at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. To learn more about the show or to register, visit www.visionexpoeast.com. 

Researchers wanted to investigate the manner in which contemporary soft contact lenses differ in the distribution of optical power within their optic zones and establish if these variations affect the vision of wearers or the prescribing procedure for back vertex power (BVP).
     By using a Visionix VC 2001 contact lens power analyzer, power profiles were measured across the optic zones of the following contemporary contact lenses: Acuvue 2, Acuvue Advance, O2Optix, Night & Day and PureVision. Single BVP measures were obtained using a Nikon projection lensometer. Visual performance was assessed in 28 masked subjects who wore each lens type in random order. Measurements taken were high and low contrast visual acuity in normal illumination (250 Cd/m), high contrast acuity in reduced illumination (5 Cd/m), subjective visual quality using a numerical rating scale, and visual satisfaction rating using a Likert scale.
     Marked differences in the distribution of optical power across the optic zone were evident among the lens types. No significant differences were found for any of the visual performance variables (p > 0.05, analysis of variance with repeated measures and Friedman test).
     The researchers concluded that variations in power profile between contemporary soft lens types exist but do not, in general, result in measurable visual performance differences in the short term, nor do they substantially influence the BVP required for optimal correction.
Papas E, Dahms A, Carnt N, Tahhan N, Ehrmann K. Power Profiles and Short-Term Visual Performance of Soft Contact Lenses. Optom Vis Sci 2009.

Daily disposable contact lenses make it easy to customize your patient's vision correction on a day-to-day basis. Offer patients you fit in monovision contacts, who have similar prescriptions in both eyes, the flexibility of customizing their vision. For instance, while working at their desk during the day, monovision may be great. On the weekends, however, patients may want to put on two distance contact lenses for playing sports like golf or for certain social activities. Daily disposables make this easy since patients can alter their correction in a simple, cost efficient manner. In many instances, patients are unaware this is possible and appreciate a refreshing new approach.
Marsha M. Malooley, OD, FAAO
Chicago, IL

My editorial last week implied that medical therapeutics or devices in quantities greater than 3 ounces could not be "carried on" to a commercial airplane. To clarify, the TSA allows "all prescription and over-the-counter medications including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solutions for medical purposes." These "are not limited in size of volume" but if they are in quantities greater than 3 ounces, they must be declared to TSA officers for further inspection. If these items are "carried on" in sizes less than 3 ounces, they do not have to be declared, but do need to be in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag.
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.