CONTACT LENSES TODAY

March 21, 2004

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches nearly 10,000 readers in 74 countries.


1-800 Contacts Files Lawsuit for Multiple Claims
1-800 Contacts recently filed legal action against Coastal Contacts, Inc. for trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution, copyright infringement, unfair trade practices and other related claims. The lawsuit specifically alleges that Coastal Contacts has caused thousands of unauthorized "pop-up" advertisements to appear on 1-800 Contacts' Web site. According to the company's general counsel, 1-800 is seeking an end to the hijacking of its Web site, damages for the customers inappropriately taken by Coastal Contacts as well as attorney's fees.

ACE Inhibitors Fight Dry Eye?
New research suggests that treatment with certain blood pressure drugs (ACE inhibitors) seems to reduce the risk of dry eye syndrome. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison reported the results of their study in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. During the study period, 322 of the 2,500 subjects (ages 48 to 91) developed dry eye. It occurred in 9% of subjects taking an ACE inhibitor versus 14% among those not taking an ACE inhibitor. The authors suggest that the protective effect of these drugs may involve their anti-inflammatory effects.

RELIEF FOR SEASONAL ALLERGY SUFFERERS
An estimated eight million U.S. contact lens wearers exhibit ocular symptoms of allergies. Patients suffering from seasonal allergic conjunctivitis who wore Focus DAILIES reported fewer days of burning and redness compared to patients wearing a new pair of their usual lenses in a clinical study (CIBA Vision data on file).
Keep your patients in contact lenses with DAILIES. (http://www.cibavision.com)

--ADVERTISING

Study Finds Uveitis Common
A population-based study published in the March issue of Ophthalmology concluded that the incidence of uveitis in the United States is nearly three times that of previous estimates. The study's findings indicate that more than 280,000 Americans have uveitis-related problems each year.

VSP Honors Six ODs
Vision Service Plan (VSP) recently released the winners of its 2004 People First Award. The Award recognizes VSP network eye doctors who go beyond the call of duty in serving their patients, their communities and their profession. One of the following six regional winners will ultimately be selected as the national award recipient later this year: Carol Marusich, OD, MS, FCOVD,of Eugene, Ore.; Jack Hostetler, OD, of Mesa, Ariz.; Daisy Chan, OD, FAAO, of Chicago; Kimberly Friedman, OD, of Moorestown, N.J.; Cathy Doty, OD, of New Bern, N.C.; and Ronald Solomon, OD, FAAO, of Colorado Springs, Colo. These individuals were selected among a pool of candidates nominated by office staff and other doctors from across the country. They each received a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,000 donation to the community-based charitable organization of their choice.

Time's Running Out to Nominate Award Winners
The Vision Care Section (VCS) of the American Public Health Association (APHA) invites nominations for the Distinguished Service Award, the Outstanding Scientific Paper/Project Award and the Outstanding Student Paper/Project Award. Nominations are due by March 30, 2004 and should include a narrative statement of 250 words or less, along with a copy of the paper/project to be considered. Just visit http://www.aaopt.org/news/index.asp?record_id=158&src=home to learn more. Award recipients will be honored during the next annual meeting of the American Public Health Association to be held in Washington, DC, November 6-10, 2004.

Abstract: CW Lenses and Their Affect on the Cornea
Investigators fit 26 myopic eyes that had no history of contact lens wear with silicone hydrogel contact lenses to investigate the effect of 30-day continuous wear contact lenses (Focus Night & Day) on corneal thickness and physiology. Before the lens fitting and at each visit on day 1, day 10 and 1 month, they performed complete ophthalmologic examinations, corneal topography and corneal thickness measurements at the center and eight peripheral areas. All patients maintained their 20/20 vision with correction. Any punctate epithelial corneal defects resolved when the contact lens was removed for one day; the investigators noted no serious complications. They did, however, conclude that increases in mean central and peripheral corneal thickness indicate that these lenses may have an affect on corneal metabolism.
Yeniad B, Seidu Adam Y, Kozer Bilgin L, Gozum N. Effect of 30-Day Continuous Wear of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses on Corneal Thickness. Eye & Contact Lens 2004 Jan;30(1):6-9.


Editor's Commentary: What's Your Fitting Threshold?
How many soft toric lenses do you try before you give up? Here's a dilemma: Rx OU is +0.50 -1.25 x90, college student. Now, most of us think this person who wants contact lenses should try soft torics. But the first lens fails because of distortion and poor fit. The second lens doesn't feel good enough. The patient assures you that she wears her glasses all the time -- that is, when she reads, drives or watches a movie. So you try a third toric design, right? Or, do you quit after two lenses? Or do you go for four or five designs? We'd love to hear what your threshold is. E-mail us and tell us what you think.

Fitting Tip: The Best Way to Fit CLs
Always perform a diagnostic fit. K readings only give a small bit of information, and topography can't predict interaction with the lids. On-eye evaluation is the best bet and shows the patient that contact lenses are different (ie, a medical device that requires professional expertise).
--Doug Benoit, OD
Concord, N.H.


The Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS) Wants YOU to Attend
(July 22-25, 2004 Toronto, Canada)
More than 20 hours of CE courses presented by a faculty of international experts.
http://www.gos2004.com



Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.

Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free golf shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.
CLToday Services: Subscribe; Change or Remove your e-mail address; submit news to news@cltoday.com; or, fax 1-215-643-3902.
Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of Boucher Communications, Inc. ©2004 Boucher Communications, Inc.