CooperVision announced the launch of its "CooperVision ECP" Facebook page and blog, "ON EYE," allowing the company to engage directly with eyecare practitioners (ECPs).
     "We are excited to strengthen our connection with the vision care community and listen to their thoughts and perspective, sharing the latest industry news, trends and tips, and product announcements," said Dennis Murphy, President of the Americas, CooperVision, Inc. "Through our CooperVision ECP Facebook page and contact lens-focused blog, ON EYE, we are able to partner directly with ECPs to provide strategy and content so they can leverage social media to build their practices."
     The eyecare practitioner Facebook page can be accessed at www.facebook.com/coopervisionECP and offers ECPs helpful tools and resources, from product information and rebates to patient engagement and practice-building tips. It also gives eyecare practitioners the opportunity to interact with one another and share best practices.
     Designed to meet the needs of ECPs, ON EYE (www.coopervision.com/us/blog) offers insights and informative discussions around contact lens fitting, technology and the overall business. Bloggers include CooperVision executives and external industry experts. Primary blog categories include: Building Your Practice, Executive Corner, In the News, InSIGHTs & Trends, and Patient Spotlight.

Blanchard Contact Lens, Inc. has combined the RSS and Reclaim HD contact lens designs to address the needs of presbyopic, post-refractive surgical patients.
     The design of the RSS lens fits the unusually flat post-surgical central cornea without allowing excessive vaulting, according to the company. At the same time, the midperipheral alignment of the lens provides good centration.
    For the post-surgical, presbyopic patient, Blanchard is offering the RSS lens design with the anterior surface Reclaim aspheric multifocal optic as an add-on feature. This feature provides near, intermediate and distance vision correction with up to +4.00D add in an aberration control aspheric multifocal optic.  Anterior optical zone sizes can be custom tailored to patients' needs and physiology of lens fit. Standard distance/intermediate anterior zone sizes help to achieve a successful fit in less chair time per the company.
     Visit the Blanchard website, www.blanchardlab.com, to view a presentation on RSS and information on other Blanchard lens designs, or call (800) 367-4009 for information.

Global EyeVentures, Inc., announces the availability of its EyeXam iPhone application from the Apple iTunes store. A free download, EyeXam features a self-guided method for measuring one's own visual acuity at distance and near, and was developed by two optometrists. EyeXam also includes color vision plates, an Amsler grid, and eye dominance test.
     During the first month of availability, EyeXam was downloaded over 100,000 times and was the second-most downloaded free iPhone application in the medical category. It is already the most popular eye and vision related iPhone application to date. A video on EyeXam is available on www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGm_LPAFRlg.
     Vision Source is the exclusive sponsor of the EyeXam doctor locator, while Alcon is the sponsor of EyeXam's section on eye drops and solutions. AllAboutVision.com provides a link for eye anatomy information. Additional strategic industry partnerships are pending. 
     "It is well known that consumer advertising through print and television offers diminishing returns. The exceptional demand for the EyeXam application, demonstrated by its high download activity, opens a new venue for our industry to reach their target audience and educate the public on the importance of professional eye examinations," said Nikki Iravani, OD, founder of Global EyeVentures.
     Global EyeVentures is a consulting firm that specializes in supporting the ophthalmic industry with product development, professional services, and sales and marketing. For more information on Global EyeVentures, visit www.globaleyeventures.com.

Your practice thrives when your patients are healthy and happy - and ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus can help you fulfill this goal, by providing exceptional comfort, vision, and health. It's a fact: more than 9 out of 10 patients stay in ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand.¹ So when you fit your patients with ACUVUE® OASYS™, you're laying a solid foundation of patient commitment and satisfaction leading to practice growth.

$75 rebate for new wearers!
Good when patients get an eye exam and purchase 8 boxes of ACUVUE® OASYS™ (spherical product only). Visit www.jnjvisioncare.com/rebates.jsp for more details.

1. Data on file.
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.
     HYDRACLEAR® Plus is our brand name for the next generation of our proprietary technology that allows us to use a higher volume of a moisture rich wetting agent in a state of the art formulation. This creates a more wettable, ultra smooth contact lens, especially for challenging environments that make eyes feel dry.
     ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® OASYS™, HYDRACLEAR®, and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2010.
--ADVERTISING

LensAlert became available at Target stores on April 11, 2010. Packaged as a Contact Lens Care Kit, the product includes the patented LensAlert Reminder Timer, three contact lens cases, and easy to understand lens care tips that can be cut out and taped to a bathroom mirror. Target is selling the Contact Lens Care Kit for $11.99.  
     For more information on LensAlert, please visit www.lensalert.com. 

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) will launch its fourth annual online auction on May 3. The auction, which will run until May 28, gives the public the opportunity to help fund sight-saving services by bidding on and purchasing a wide variety of donated items. Auction items currently include certificates from restaurants, spas and hotels, vacation packages, and top designer sunglasses. Signed photos and memorabilia from sports and entertainment stars are also available. Participants may either bid on an item or purchase it immediately.
     Just a few of the many items available are: a four night stay at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, autographed photos from actor Dustin Hoffman or music legend Quincy Jones, entrance for four guests to Wrigleyville Rooftops (July 4th Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds), four VIP tickets to tapings of the Dr. Phil Show and The Doctors, and world renowned Charlie Trotter's Guest Chef-For-A-Day gift certificate.
     Bidders may log on to www.preventblindness.net/auction to place bids. All proceeds from the auction will go to fund vision and eye health education programs across the country. 

Crystalens AO has received new technology intraocular lens (NTIOL) classification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Crystalens AO, the first accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) with aspheric optics, was approved by the FDA in late 2009 and is the only presbyopia-correcting IOL with NTIOL classification.
     The NTIOL classification became effective April 9 and means that Crystalens AO IOLs are approved for an additional $50 Medicare payment adjustment for services in conjunction with cataract procedures performed at an ambulatory surgical center (ASC).
     For more information about Crystalens, please visit www.crystalens.com.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the central and peripheral refraction across the horizontal meridian of the visual field before and after myopic corneal refractive therapy (CRT) with contact lenses.
     Twenty-eight right eyes from 28 subjects (mean age ± SD = 24.6 ± 6.3 years) were fitted with Paragon CRT contact lenses to treat myopia between -0.88D and -5.25D of spherical equivalent. Along with a complete set of examination procedures to assess suitability for treatment, the central and peripheral refractions were measured along the horizontal meridian up to 35 degrees of eccentricity in the nasal and temporal retinal area in 5 degree steps.
     Baseline central average spherical equivalent (M) measured by subjective refraction changed from -1.95D ± 1.27D to -0.38D ± 0.67D. Changes in M component ranged between 1.42D ± 0.89D at center and 0.43D ± 0.88D at 20 degrees in the temporal retina (ph 0.002). At 25 degrees to both sides of the central refraction measurement, peripheral refraction after treatment was not statistically different from baseline values (pg 0.351). Beyond the 25 degrees limit, M component changed in the myopic direction up to -1.11D ± 0.88D at 35 degrees in temporal retina (ph 0.001). Treatment induced was symmetric between nasal and temporal visual field along the horizontal meridian (pg 0.05 for all eccentricities). Furthermore, the degree of myopic increase in spherical equivalent for 30 degrees (r = 0.573, ph 0.001) and 35 degrees (r = 0.645, ph 0.001) eccentric refraction was highly correlated with axial spherical equivalent at baseline.
     The researchers concluded that CRT inverts the pattern of peripheral refraction in spherical equivalent refraction, creating a treatment area of myopic reduction within the central 25 degrees of visual field, and a myopic shift beyond the 25 degrees. In peripheral refraction for 30 degrees and 35 degrees, the amount of myopia induced in terms of spherical equivalent has an almost 1:1 relationship with the amount of baseline spherical equivalent refraction to be corrected.
Queiros A, Gonzalez-Meijome JM, Jorge J, Villa-Collar C, Gutierrez AR. Peripheral Refraction in Myopic Patients after Orthokeratology. Optom Vis Sci 2010. 

This week's abstract further highlights the interesting potential effects of orthokeratology. Although initial studies have been promising, indicating a potential for some myopia control, we still need longer-term and well-controlled studies to address this issue. Hopefully data will be coming soon in this regard.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO 

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: a review of the potential uses, efficacy, safety and clinical performance of antimicrobial contact lens technology.