Bausch + Lomb and NicOx S.A. announced that the companies have entered into a licensing agreement which grants B+L exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize NCX 116 (previously PF-03187207), a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2-alpha analog. NCX 116 has completed two phase 2 studies that demonstrated promising results in patients who have glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
          Under the terms of the agreement, B+L will make an initial license payment to NicOx of $10 million, followed by potential development, regulatory, commercialization and sales success-based milestones, which, over time, could total $169.5 million. NicOx will also receive tiered double-digit royalties on the sales of NCX 116. NicOx has the option to co-promote NCX 116 products in the United States.
          NicOx has granted B+L the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize NCX 116 and other products containing NCX 116, such as fixed-dose combinations, for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. B+L will fund development and commercialization activities, and the two companies will manage the collaboration through a joint steering committee. The agreement will be effective March 29, 2010.
          B+L has the option to develop additional nitric oxide-donating compounds for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension, including the other prostaglandin F2-alpha analogs resulting from NicOxs research. The terms for the license of these compounds would be negotiated under a separate agreement at the time of exercising the option.

The Indiana University School of Optometry, the Arizona College of Optometry at Midwestern University and Compulink Business Systems, Inc., have announced strategic optometric electronic health records (EHR) agreements. The two institutions join 10 other schools and colleges of optometry that have standardized their outpatient clinics on Compulink's Advantage/EHR.
     The Indiana University School of Optometry selected Compulink's Eyecare Advantage practice management and Advantage/EHR to manage the school's clinics, which have 300 clinician and student users in three locations. The system replaces its current practice management software and will automate administrative tasks, such as writing prescriptions and scheduling.
     The Arizona College of Optometry at Midwestern University also installed a customized version of Eyecare Advantage and Advantage/EHR for its newly formed degree program including one clinic and 50 student users.

Having a shingles infection that affects the eyes may increase the risk of stroke, according to research published last week in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
     For the study, researchers identified 658 people diagnosed with ocular shingles and 1,974 without the infection. None had a history of stroke at the beginning of the study. During the one-year study, stroke developed in 8.1 percent of the people with shingles and in 1.7 percent of the people without shingles.
     The study found that people who had shingles were four-and-a-half times more likely to have a stroke compared to people without shingles. The results were the same regardless of age, gender, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and medications. The researchers found that there was no difference in the risk of stroke between people who received antiviral drugs and those who did not.
     The study also found that the people who had shingles were more likely to have ischemic stroke and less likely to have hemorrhagic stroke, compared to people without shingles.
     Gustavo A. Ortiz, MD, with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, says further research is needed because the study did not account for stroke risk factors such as cigarette smoking. Also, the results are based on people in Taiwan, and there may be differences in stroke risk compared to other populations.

Presbyopia often signals the end of contact lens wear, even for committed wearers. But now with ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses for PRESBYOPIA, you can satisfy the comfort and vision needs of your presbyopic patients. The unique optics of STEREO PRECISION TECHNOLOGY™ leverage the eye's natural depth of clear focus for balanced vision at all distances, with less dependence on illumination. And the STEREO PRECISION SELECT™ Tool removes the guesswork of fitting, allowing for a 74% fit success rate in two visits or less.¹ With ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand for PRESBYOPIA, you're expanding the solid foundation of patient commitment and satisfaction provided by all ACUVUE® OASYS™ contact lenses-supporting continued practice retention and growth.
Click here for more information. 
 
1. Data on file. Johnson & Johnson, 2008.
     ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting jnjvisioncare.com.
     ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® OASYS™, STEREO PRECISION TECHNOLOGY™, STEREO PRECISION SELECT™, and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2010.
--ADVERTISING

Aton Pharma, Inc. announced that in an independent survey of U.S. ophthalmologists by Frost & Sullivan, its Timoptic (timolol maleate) was rated the leading brand name of beta blockers for glaucoma. Timoptic received Frost & Sullivan's 2010 Best Practices Award as the Best Brand Name of Beta Blockers for Glaucoma, based on its Brand Perception Index (BPI) score, reflecting strong brand reputation, recognition and customer loyalty.
     Frost & Sullivan surveyed 150 U.S. ophthalmologists using a Web-based survey methodology during November 2009. In the survey, 50 percent of ophthalmologists ranked Timoptic as the number 1 brand name of beta blockers.

Prevent Blindness America is launching its "Star Pupils" campaign, designed to educate parents on childrens vision issues. The campaign also seeks donations to provide disadvantaged children with access to vision care. The Star Pupils campaign will arm parents with information they need to protect their kids' eyes at play and school to ensure a lifetime of quality vision.
     Parents may simply visit starpupils.org to receive free sight-saving information about their childs eyes including information on common eye problems in children, eye safety and a family at-home vision test.
     Starpupils.org also provides useful information for parents of school-age children. Because every state has regulations that vary, the Web site houses a comprehensive database for childrens vision care requirements for entering schools. Parents are also encouraged to share stories of how their childs vision health has impacted their lives. For more information on Star Pupils, please visit starpupils.org or call (800) 331-2020.

Bausch + Lomb, has appointed Jane G. Mazur as vice president, public relations, Global/North America, Vision Care. Before joining B+L, Ms. Mazur served as executive vice president, director of national media, for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
     Ms. Mazur has more than 20 years of experience in media relations, consumer marketing, events and integrated promotions. While with Ogilvy she guided a team of media specialists and counseled clients across their network. Prior to joining Ogilvy, Ms. Mazur held positions at Edelman Public Relations, The Walt Disney Company and Gangwisch & Associates.

Vision organizations around the globe will highlight glaucoma as a research and public health priority during World Glaucoma Week, March 7-13. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that although 90 percent of people recently surveyed had heard of glaucoma, only 8 percent knew it has no early warning signs. The National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) at NEI is working to raise awareness about this silent condition and the need for comprehensive dilated eye exams to detect glaucoma in its early stages, before vision loss occurs.
     NEHEP has developed a variety of glaucoma-related educational resources such as radio and print public service announcements, brochures, electronic cards, and a glaucoma education Web site, http://www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma/, to encourage people at a higher risk to have comprehensive dilated eye exams every one to two years.

This article describes the use of Jupiter scleral lenses (Medlens Innovations, Front Royal, VA; and Essilor Contact Lenses, Inc., Dallas, TX) in the management of keratoconus.
     The authors performed a single-center retrospective chart review of their initial 32 patients with keratoconus evaluated for scleral lens wear. All patients were referred for scleral lens evaluation after exhausting other nonsurgical options for visual correction. Diagnostic lenses were used in the initial fitting process. If an adequate fit could not be achieved with standard lenses, custom lenses were designed in consultation with the manufacturers' specialists. The following measures were evaluated for each patient: ability to tolerate and handle lenses, visual acuity with scleral lenses, number of lenses, and visits needed to complete the fitting process.
     Fifty-two eyes of 32 patients were evaluated for scleral lens wear. Of these, 12 patients (20 eyes) decided not to pursue scleral lens wear after initial evaluation. One patient (2 eyes) abandoned the fitting process after cataract surgery. The remaining 19 patients (30 eyes) were fit successfully. The average number of lenses ordered per eye was 1.5. The fitting process required an average of 2.8 visits. Standard lenses were prescribed for 23 eyes, and custom designs were needed for 7 eyes. Median best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/40 (mean, 20/76) before scleral lens fitting to 20/20 (mean, 20/30) after fitting. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 32 months.
     The authors concluded that the Jupiter scleral lenses provide acceptable visual acuity and comfort in patients who have keratoconus. The availability of diagnostic lenses facilitates the fitting process.
Schornack MM, Patel SV. Scleral lenses in the management of keratoconus. Eye Contact Lens;36:39-44.

The challenge to consider contact lenses as more than devices to correct refractive conditions is a wide open future. As we consider these options, we need to recognize that there are product attributes already in the market place that accomplish this. Do we first consider protection and prevention versus treatment?
     Current literature provides strong evidence that the eyes are subject to an increasing risk of damage by both acute and chronic UVR exposure. It is has been accepted for eyecare practitioners to recommend protection against UVR to all patients, and especially to those who participate in work and leisure activities that expose them to high levels of UVR. More recent studies have demonstrated some of the limitations of UV-absorbing spectacle lenses and sunglasses. Sunglasses may be unable to shield oblique rays, unless side protection is incorporated. Soft contact lenses with UV blocking technology can offer UVR protection against all angles of incidence, including the peak-response angle. They can also protect the eye in settings in which the wearing of glasses or sunglasses is not feasible or convenient.
     The effectiveness of contact lenses with UV blocking characteristics has been confirmed and their use can significantly reduce ocular exposure to the UVR implicated in most sun-related disease.
Colleen Riley, O.D. MS, FAAO, Dipl. CL, Vice President, Professional Development Group, Vistakon

As mentioned in the Abstract this week, diagnostic lenses can often facilitate the contact lens fitting process, particularly in specialty fits. I also understand the appeal of empirical fitting. One of the things you will see in upcoming content in Contact Lens Spectrum is the ongoing debate about fitting (primarily GP) contact lenses empirically or diagnostically. Stay tuned for this contemporary knowledge and opinion on what is happening in the field relative to this important part of contact lens practice.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO