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Ocular Surface Update
Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO
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During my cab ride from the Atlanta airport to the SECO convention center last week, I noticed the magnolia trees blooming, a true herald of approaching spring. And, we all know what spring brings, right? Many of you might say "spring break, "warm weather," or "sports" like baseball, but many practitioners and patients alike may reply, "allergy season." I am reminded of a question posed to me at a dry eye investigators meeting years ago following a publication of mine in which itching was reported as one of the top symptoms dry eye patients report: "Why would a dry eye patient report itching…isn't that a hallmark for ocular allergy?"
Well, yes and no. I have since heard a number of gifted continuing education lecturers and clinical authors address this question. Most frequently I hear: "If your patient has to stop and really rub his/her eyes, I mean really knuckle-rub them, then it is allergy. If it is more of a sensation, or irritation, and if the eyelids feel itchy, that may be dry eye or MGD."
As clinicians we are eager to come up with one answer, THE answer, to a patient's problem. What if in this case, the patient has both dry eye and ocular allergy? As spring and the associated molds and pollen arrive, take the time to ask your dry eye patients, contact lens wearers or not, about ocular itch and the impact on quality of life, and remember that ocular allergy is part of the "ocular surface disease" family of conditions.
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Care Solution Corner
Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO
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With today's new soft contact lens materials and designs, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a lens is inside out or not. A recent article in Contact Lens Spectrum by Bitton and Jones helps to clarify the situation.
The traditional method of viewing the lens edge on one's finger still works well for most lenses. If the edge profile appears like a "bowl," then the lens is oriented correctly. If the edges "flare" out, then the lens is everted.
Many lenses now include an "inversion indicator" that aids in determining a lens' eversion. It is comprised of combinations of numbers, symbols, and/or letters placed on the outside (convex side) of the lens. When viewed from just underneath the lens, the indicator can be read properly, demonstrating a lens' correct orientation to the patient. The markings, when read through the biomicroscope, can also help the practitioner verify that a lens' concave side is correctly facing the corneal surface. However, as the authors reported, the appearance of one of the markers does require extra clarification. The Air Optix Night and Day's (CIBA Vision) indicator, "OK", only reads properly when it is sitting at the 12 o'clock position.
For more information, including images, please see the complete article: http://www.clspectrum.com/....
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CooperVision Introduces New Corporate Brand Identity
CooperVision unveiled its new brand positioning and visual identity that better reflects the organization's values.
According to the company, the new watermark logo was designed to represent a blend of scientific precision with the vibrancy found in everyday experiences. The spectrum of colors and fluid nature of the design reinforces CooperVision's perspective that the world is a vibrant, ever-changing place. It also provides a unique take on water and comfort – valuable qualities of the CooperVision lenses that are key ingredients in our wearers' daily lives.
The new branding will debut in a new eye care practitioner trade campaign for CooperVision's Biofinity product line, and will be rolled out across all of CooperVision's online properties and product packaging over the next few months. The Biofinity campaign will include access to content via quick response (QR) codes for both practitioners and patients.
The new corporate brand identity was developed by global strategic branding firm Siegel + Gale.
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Acuvue Advance Plus Brand Receives AOA Seal of Acceptance for UV Absorbing Contact Lenses
Acuvue Advance Plus Brand Contact Lenses became the sixth contact lens in the Acuvue Brand family of products to receive the Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbing Contact Lenses from the American Optometric Association's (AOA) Commission on Ophthalmic Standards.
In awarding the Seal of Acceptance, AOA's Commission on Ophthalmic Standards, which provides independent evaluation of ophthalmic related products, determined that Acuvue Advance Plus Brand meets AOA specifications for ultraviolet absorbing contact lenses. These specifications are in accordance with published standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Standards Organization (ISO).
Among contact lens brands, only Acuvue Advance Plus, 1•DAY Acuvue TruEye, Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus, Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, Acuvue Advance with Hydraclear, and Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism contact lenses carry this seal. According to the company, these contact lenses offer the highest level of UV-blocking available, blocking more than 90 percent of UVA rays and 99 percent of UVB rays that reach the lens. On average, contact lenses without UV-blocking capability allow 90% of UVA radiation and 70% of UVB radiation to pass through the lenses to the eyes.
Complete information is available at www.jnjvisioncare.com.
B+L Appoints Dr. Calvin W. Roberts as Chief Medical Officer
Bausch + Lomb (B+L) announced the appointment of Calvin W. Roberts, MD to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Roberts will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and coordinate the company's global Development and Research efforts across the Vision Care, Pharmaceuticals and Surgical business units for greater leverage and outcomes.
A specialist in cataract and refractive surgery, Dr. Roberts is credited with developing and producing over-the-counter products for vision care, prescription ocular therapeutics and innovative treatment regimens. Dr. Roberts is considered to be the "father" of ophthalmic non-steroidals; he has published 50 peer-reviewed articles.
Dr. Roberts is a member of the board of directors at Alimera Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company he co-founded in 2003. Dr. Roberts is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. As a consultant to ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies, including Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis, Dr. Roberts has helped lead the development and marketing efforts for several new therapeutics.
Oculus Adds New Tear Film Scan Software
Oculus is introducing new Tear Film Scan software for use with its Keratograph 4 Corneal Topographer. The software was developed in close collaboration with JENVIS Research at the Jena University of Applied Sciences in Thuringia, Germany. Using the TF-Scan software, the tear film can be assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Both measurements are taken non-invasively in a patient-friendly manner.
The break-up time of the tear film (quality) can be determined using the NIBUT procedure (non-invasive break-up time). Changes in the projected placido rings (edge shift of placido rings) indicate the break-up time of the tear film. This evaluation is made automatically and the break-up time is represented in color. Dry patches which break up early on are marked in red. Color representation facilitates patient consultation.
In addition the quantity of the tear film can be assessed non-invasively by manual determination of tear meniscus height. A tear meniscus height of 0.2 mm indicates that the amount of tear film is too small.
For more information on the Keratograph 4 and the new software, visit www.oculususa.com.
TruForm Optics Relocates to New Facilities
TruForm Optics Inc. announced the recent relocation of the company from Euless, Texas, to new headquarters in Bedford, Texas. The new space will allow the company to accommodate their growing line of specialty GP lens designs, maintain its presence in the Fort Worth/Dallas area, and continue to expand its customer base while retaining the excellent customer service and personal touch expected from TruForm.
For more information about TruForm Optics, Inc. and their contact lens designs, visit www.tfoptics.com
SBH and HOYA Surgical Optics Combine Forces
ScienceBased Health (SBH), a provider of evidence-based nutraceuticals for eye health, and HOYA Surgical Optics, Inc (HSO), announced their partnership to increase awareness of nutrition's role in eye health in the ophthalmic market.
Under the terms of the partnership, HSO will be a sales agent for the SBH line of nutraceuticals in the ophthalmic market. HSO's sales force will help expand awareness of nutrition's role in eye care and provide guidance on how nutrition can best fit within the offerings of an eyecare practice.
This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: Ethnic differences in ocular physiology, tear mixing and contact lens-related adverse events, risk factors for inflammatory and mechanical events, and our synopsis of the 2010 meeting of the American Academy of Optometry.
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Editor's Commentary
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO
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The results from last week's Quick Poll are indeed interesting, although without question they point to the fact that we need further studies on infiltrative keratitis in contact lens wearers. While approximately 56% of respondents felt that they are seeing infiltrative keratitis presenting either at the same or less frequently than in years prior, approximately 44% feel that infiltrative keratitis has been on the rise over the last few years.
We'd like to hear your specific thoughts on this topic. Please email us at tips@cltoday.com if you would like to share your perspective.
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CLToday Quick Poll
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Last week's question:
Over the last few years, have you observed a change in how often you see infiltrative keratitis in your contact lens wearing patients?
1. Yes, I’m seeing it more frequently.
 44%
2. I’m seeing at the same rates as I’ve always seen it.
25%
3. No, I’m seeing it less frequently.
31%
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Abstract
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Comparison of Low-Contrast Visual Acuity Between Eye Black and Maxsight Tinted Contact Lenses
Athletes who participate in outdoor activities seek products to reduce glare and improve contrast. This study compares performance of low-contrast visual acuity (VA) in bright outdoor conditions between the Maxsight Amber contact lens (CLs) and clear CLs with and without Eye Black grease.
Seventeen subjects were fitted with clear CLs, clear lenses with Eye Black grease, Maxsight lenses with Eye Black grease, and Maxsight lenses alone. With each modality, the subject demonstrated low-contrast VA was assessed. At the end of testing, subjects completed a questionnaire to survey the performance of each modality.
The average low-contrast VA with clear CLs was 20/18.4, which improved to 20/17 with the addition of Eye Black grease (P=0.132). Significant improvement in low-contrast VA was seen with the Maxsight CLs to 20/15.4 (P<0.05), although it was not further improved with the addition of Eye Black grease. The results of the questionnaire showed a preference of the Maxsight CLs throughout the study for low-contrast VA.
Although Eye Black grease has its place in sport and some sporting environments, the benefit in contrast acuity is insignificant. The better performance of the amber Maxsight lenses in this study demonstrates a visual performance benefit in bright sunlight.
Horn FC, Erickson GB, Karben B, Moore B. Comparison of Low-Contrast Visual Acuity Between Eye Black and Maxsight Tinted Contact Lenses. Eye Contact Lens. 2011 Mar 3.
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