CooperVision has expanded the parameters of its Biofinity silicone hydrogel contact lenses. With the new sphere powers, minus lenses now range from -0.25D to -10.00D, allowing more patients to be fit in Biofinity monthly replacement lenses, which feature CooperVision's Aquaform technology. 
     Biofinity is manufactured from comfilcon A material. The water content of Biofinity is 48 percent, Dk is 128, and Dk/t is 160. The lens base curve is 8.6mm; diameter 14.0mm. It is now available in sphere power ranges of -0.25D to -6.00D in 0.25D steps and -6.00D to -10.00D in 0.50D steps.

The Association of the Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) has developed new standards for commercial support of COPE-approved continuing education. These standards, currently in draft form, will supplement the existing guidelines for COPE-approved administrators and speakers, plus add requirements to manage corporate support of COPE-approved CE with the highest integrity and free of commercial bias.
     According to the information provide by ARBO, the new standards are intended to benefit the relationship between industry and optometric continuing education and give clear direction to both providers and industry. By ensuring compliance with these standards, industry is protected, optometric CE integrity is protected and the profession benefits from subsidized education. In addition, the public is protected and benefits from improved quality of care.
     There will be a period for appropriate comment and suggestion from stakeholders in the CE system. Final guidelines will be released during the AOA Congress in June with formal implementation likely on January 1, 2009. 
     ARBO President Christina Sorenson, O.D., stated, "Our commitment is to continue to provide salient and unbiased CE that is not influenced by a specific company, product or brand. Our responsibility is to provide and implement the standards necessary for establishing and protecting the integrity of optometric CE."
     For further information, contact ARBO at 314-785-6000 or email arbo@arbo.org.

Hydrogel Vision Corporation announced the expansion of their 54% toric product line with a new cylinder option: Extreme H2O 54% Toric MC (mid cyl, 1.25D).
     According to the company, Extreme H2O 54% Toric MC is designed for the 30% of astigmatic patients from 1.25D to 1.75D. The lens is available in 10° increments to meet the precise axis requirements of a mid cyl correction. Lenses are initially available in the following axis: 180 +/- 20 in 10° steps (160, 170, 180, 10, 20) and 90 +/- 10 in 10° steps (80, 90, 100). Additional axis in 10° increments around the clock will be available throughout 2008.
     Free diagnostic sets of the Extreme H2O 54% Toric LC and MC lenses are available directly through Hydrogel Vision and through any of their authorized Extreme H2O distributors. For more information, call 1-877-336-2482 or visit www.extreme-h2o.com.

CIBA Vision recently announced the introduction of a new corporate identity to reflect the company's renewed commitment to being leaders in the eye care field. The new corporate identity includes a modern, new corporate logo and new purpose statement: Shared Passion for Healthy Vision and Better Life.
     CIBA Vision will phase in the new logo on product packaging and other materials throughout 2008, with full transition to the new logo on its product line expected by the end of 2009. 

Nothing drives referrals like satisfied patients. And nothing satisfies patients like the comfort and minimal corneal staining that can be provided by ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus. In a recent clinical study, new wearers exhibited no significant difference in corneal staining and reported no significant difference in overall comfort between ACUVUE® OASYS™ and no lens. And in an in-market trial, 89% of patients fit with ACUVUE® OASYS™ would recommend their doctors based on their experience. How will you satisfy your patients and build your practice with ACUVUE® OASYS™?
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The Shandong Institute of Pharmaceutical Research has named two Bausch & Lomb executives as distinguished research fellows, the Institute's highest scientific honor. Praveen Tyle, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, and Erning Xia, research fellow and coordinator for Bausch & Lomb Freda research and development, were presented with the appointments in a recent ceremony.
     Bausch & Lomb Freda, the company's pharmaceutical joint venture in the region, has recently relocated its research and development activities to the Institute's new facility, located in Jinan, China.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. announced it is an official sponsor of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), the national governing body for the sport of soccer in the United States. Under terms of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will sponsor the U.S. Men's National Team, the U.S. Women's National Team and the U.S. Youth National Teams in 2008. In addition, according to the company, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will provide national team members with Acuvue contact lenses, the official lens of the U.S. National Teams, when an eye examination determines that a corrective Acuvue contact lens is right for them.
     Per the company, through the USSF sponsorship, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will educate athletes and fans about the important role vision plays in sports performance. The outreach will also extend beyond sports by showing the benefits of better vision in other aspects of daily life. The company also stated that U.S. Women's National Team member Heather O'Reilly will play a leading role in the efforts to educate athletes and other performance-minded individuals by sharing her personal story about the valuable role of vision in life.
     The company also announced the launch of the Acuvue The Difference Is Real Trip to Beijing sweepstakes. The sweepstakes runs March 19 through April 11, 2008, and will provide four winners and their guests a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
     According to the company, the sweepstakes is the centerpiece of a multifaceted campaign that explores the ways vision and eye health affects performance. With the help of Heather O'Reilly and Graham Erickson, O.D. and co-author of Sports Vision: Vision Care for the Enhancement of Sports Performance, the campaign also aims to educate Americans about how proper vision correction can help improve performance in other areas such as driving, work or academics.
     For more details and the official rules for the sweepstakes, visit www.myspace.com/heathervision.  

In this report from Australia researchers investigated whether the level of IgE is increased in the eyes of patients during general contact lens-induced papillary conjunctivitis (CLPC) events, which involve enlarged papillae across the entire palpebral conjunctiva, or local CLPC events, in which papillae are confined to one or two parts of the palpebral conjunctiva..
     Worn contact lenses were collected and soaked in phosphate-buffered saline. The levels of eluted IgE and IgE retained on contact lenses were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgE was detected in 6 of 12 cases of general CLPC, 8 of 21 cases of local CLPC, and none of 14 control contact lenses. The average level of eluted IgE was 0.54 +/- 1.06 IU/contact lens, 0.28 +/- 0.54 IU/contact lens, and 0.04 +/- 0.06 IU/contact lens for general CLPC, local CLPC, and the control group, respectively. The incidences of positive IgE were significantly higher in patients with CLPC (general and local) than in control subjects, but no statistical difference was found between general and local CLPC. Generally higher amounts of retained IgE were detected on contact lenses that had increased levels of eluted IgE. Contact lenses that were collected before or after a CLPC event did not show increased levels of IgE.
     The authors concluded that the level of IgE is increased in the eyes of some patients during an acute event of CLPC. The similar incidence of IgE-positive cases and levels of IgE from general and local CLPC contact lenses suggest that the conditions may share similar causal pathways.
Zhao Z, Fu H, Skotnitsky CC, Sankaridurg PR, Willcox MD. IgE Antibody on Worn Highly Oxygen-Permeable Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses From Patients With Contact Lens-Induced Papillary Conjunctivitis (CLPC). Eye Contact Lens. 2008 Mar;34(2):117-21. 

This week's abstract should serve as a reminder of two things. One, always evert eyelids in your contact lens wearers and perform a careful slit lamp examination of both the superior and inferior palpebral conjunctiva. This proactive approach will help you and your staff to better educate your patients and better yet possibly prevent problems before they become symptomatic. Two, spring is fast approaching and if you live in an area like I do with many seasonal allergy sufferers, your practice should be gearing up. Again, the proactive approach of careful education and proactive topical and oral prescription writing in your known allergy sufferers can ease and in some cases prevent the sometimes debilitating symptoms. Ensure your practice schedule will allow for timely appointments for acute attacks in those you are unable to catch in advance.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.