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.
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