B&L Introduces SofLens Daily Disposables
Per the company, SofLens Daily Disposable contact lenses offer high quality vision, especially in low-light conditions, as the only daily disposable with aspheric optics designed to reduce spherical aberration across the full range of powers. B&L also states that the lens provides outstanding all-day comfort due to: a reduced mass design which provides less lens-lid interaction, the non-ionic hilafilcon B lens material which inhibits deposits and a unique lens storage solution which envelops lenses in a cushion of moisture with a slow release mechanism that supports wearing comfort throughout the day. Also the lens comes in an ergonomic blister pack which enables easy lens removal.
SofLens Daily Disposable lenses are available for shipment at the same price as SofLens One Day lenses. B&L asks that eyecare practitioners transition current SofLens One Day lens patients to SofLens Daily Disposables. In order to make this transition smooth for ECPs and patients, B&L will continue to ship SofLens One Day lenses (Rx and trials) through May 30, 2008.
If you have any questions please contact your B&L representative or customer service at 1-800-828-9030. Information can also be found at www.bausch.com.
Tru-Form Optics Files Patent Lawsuit Against Blanchard
Blanchard Contact Lens, Inc. is currently reviewing the patent and the prior art. "We do not believe that we are infringing, as we have been offering some of the designs mentioned in the patent well before the patent was filed. Blanchard Contact Lens firmly intends to stand up for what we believe is right for our practitioners and patients alike," said Jean Blanchard, President of Blanchard Contact Lens, Inc.
The lawsuit is pending.
CooperVision Sees Need to Educate Americans on Options for Managing Presbyopia
Harris Interactive fielded the study from February 8-12, 2008 via its QuickQuery online omnibus service, interviewing a nationwide sample of 2,075 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. The survey also found that only 27 percent of U.S. adults queried expect to need bifocals or reading glasses. "We've set out to raise awareness around presbyopia by providing eyecare practitioners with educational materials and other tools that will help them inform their patients of the condition. We want people to know that they do have contact lens options that can help them grow older more gracefully," said Brayer.
Consumers can find more information on presbyopia, CooperVision Multifocal contact lenses and a Find an Eyecare Practitioner search tool at www.multifocalcontacts.coopervision.com.
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Prevent Blindness America Invites Consumers to "See America" through Nationwide Contest
The "See America" contest is open to all those affected by impaired vision or vision loss who feel as though they have "missed" important moments in their lives. From April 14 through July 31, entrants are asked to submit stories about a time in their life that they have had to sacrifice due to poor eye health. A secondary component of the contest submission is to include a destination within the United States that entrants want to visit if they win and why that destination is so important to them. Families of the visually impaired are also invited to submit nominations.
The national nonprofit group will award the grand prize winner with the opportunity to "See America" with four complimentary plane tickets to any United States destination of their choice. The first runner-up will receive two complimentary plane tickets.
Those interested in the contest should go to www.preventblindness.org/seeamerica to obtain contest parameters and submit their story, or call 1-800-331-2020 to receive information on submissions by mail or fax.
Abstract: Simulation of the Effect of Soft Toric Contact Lenses Movement on Retinal Image Quality
Three eyes of two subjects wearing soft toric contact lenses were cyclopleged with 1% cyclopentolate and 2.5% phenylephrine. Four hundred wavefront aberration measurements over a 5-mm pupil were recorded during soft contact lens wear at 30 Hz using a complete ophthalmic analysis system aberrometer. Each wavefront error measurement was input into Visual Optics Laboratory (version 7.15, Sarver and Associates, Inc.) to generate a retinal simulation of a high contrast log MAR visual acuity chart. The individual simulations were combined into a single dynamic movie using a custom MatLab PsychToolbox program. Visual acuity was measured for each eye reading the movie with best cycloplegic spectacle correction through a 3-mm artificial pupil to minimize the influence of the eyes' uncorrected aberrations. Comparison of the simulated acuity was made to values recorded while the subject read unaberrated charts with contact lenses through a 5-mm artificial pupil.
For one study eye, average acuity was the same as the natural contact lens viewing condition. For the other two study eyes visual acuity of the best simulation was more than one line worse than natural viewing conditions. The researchers concluded that dynamic simulation of retinal image quality, although not yet perfect, is a promising technique for visually illustrating the optical effects on image quality because of the movements of alignment-sensitive corrections.
Niu Y, Sarver EJ, Stevenson SB, Marsack JD, Parker KE, Applegate RA. Dynamic simulation of the effect of soft toric contact lenses movement on retinal image quality. Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Apr;85(4):230-5.
Editor's Commentary: Recognizing Opportunity
I often hear pessimistic comments regarding the difficulties in growing our practices. We have opportunity with patients such as the parent I described. If she were to walk into your practice, are you sure that you or your staff would have elicited the appropriate history to fully understand her needs and then to recommend options she may not know exist? If she is a potential patient who has not seen an eyecare provider is some time, are you actively seeking out new patients by asking for referrals from current patients, advertising your expertise in local newspapers and through direct mailings? I couldn't help but think that as eyecare providers, we somehow failed this woman who appeared more comfortable than she should have wearing two pair of specs.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule at: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01.