Soft contact lens wear does not accelerate the development of nearsightedness in children, per findings from a three-year study, the largest randomized trial of its kind, which were presented at the annual meeting of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
     According to the multi-site wearing trial study, which tracked the myopic progression of 484 children ages 8-11 randomly assigned to wear glasses or contact lenses, there is no clinically meaningful difference between the two forms of vision correction for the treatment of myopia. The new research further dispels a myth that soft contact lenses increase myopia progression more than other vision correction options.
     "Children as young as eight years old who require vision correction are capable of contact lens wear and this study confirms that they can safely be fit in soft contact lenses to correct their myopia," says Jeffrey J. Walline, O.D., Ph.D., Ohio State University College of Optometry and leader of the Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) Study.
     The purpose of this part of the ACHIEVE study was to measure the refractive error, corneal curvature, and axial length of eight to 11 year old children randomly assigned to wear single vision glasses or soft contact lenses (1-Day Acuvue or Acuvue 2 brand contact lenses) for three years to compare the rate of myopic progression with each mode of correction. A total of 484 eight to 11-year old myopic children participated in the randomized, single-masked, trial conducted at five clinical centers in the United States.
     At the conclusion of the study, nine in ten children (90.7 percent) originally assigned to wear contact lenses at the first visit were still wearing contact lenses. Measurements were conducted prior to randomization and annually. The spectacle wearers progressed -1.08 ± 0.71 D, and the contact lens wearers progressed -1.27 ± 0.72 D (analysis of covariance, p = 0.005); although this difference is statistically significant, the difference is less than can be clinically measured. The axial growth of the spectacle wearers was 0.59 ± 0.37 mm and 0.63 ± 0.34 mm for the contact lens wearers (analysis of covariance, p = 0.27). The change in the steep corneal meridian was 0.05 ± 0.69 D for the spectacle wearers and 0.10 ± 0.70 D for the contact lens wearers (analysis of covariance, p = 0.43). These differences were not statistically significant. 
     The study was supported by funding from Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Inc.

CooperVision announced that Jeffrey A. McLean has been named executive vice president of commercial strategies. McLean previously served as president of CooperVision's Americas region. In his new role, McLean will be responsible for managing CooperVision's global commercial strategies, including the seamless integration of marketing, product development, manufacturing, and sales across the organization. McLean will also continue his current responsibilities until a replacement is identified.
     Under his leadership as president of the Americas, McLean helped CooperVision achieve the number two market position in the Americas region and successfully manage the integration following CooperVision's acquisition of Ocular Sciences. Before he joined CooperVision, McLean held significant business development and brand management roles within Bausch and Lomb.
     "Jeff's significant marketing, sales, and strategic development experience within the contact lens industry represents an opportunity for us to capitalize on a proven executive resource who can maintain a focused view on these changing requirements," said John Weber, president, CooperVision. "Jeff will work with me to ensure that we continue exceeding our customers' needs."

Contamac, a developer of specialist polymers and provider of contact lens and intraocular lens materials based in the United Kingdom, has appointed Timothy O. Koch, COT, FCLSA to the newly created position of Vice President, Global Professional Services. Per Contamac, this role acknowledges the continued growth of the company and recognizes the need for an expanded level of professional and clinical support for their customer partners.
     Tim Koch has over 30 years experience in the eye care industry and is well known as an author, lecturer and specialist in the contact lens field. His background includes experience as a contact lens clinical specialist, eye care clinical administrator and most recently, as the Professional Services Director at Paragon Vision Sciences and VP, Professional Services at SynergEyes, Inc.
     "We are delighted to have Tim as part of the Contamac team," said John McGregor, Managing Director of Contamac Ltd. "This new professional services role underlines Contamac's commitment to growth and professional support within the eye care industry. Tim's extensive industry and clinical knowledge will be a valuable asset to the company and our customers, especially at a time when the Contamac team has developed innovative materials designed to fulfill the growing segments of the industry."

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The Orthokeratology Academy of America (OAA) recently held their annual meeting and educational conference in San Diego. International researchers presented outcomes of recent research in non-surgical myopia control. Included were presentations by Earl Smith III, OD, PhD, Brien Holden, PhD, DSc, OAM, Jeffery Walline, OD, PhD and Pauline Cho, BOptom, MEd, PhD on their separate studies focused on research into the mechanisms of myopia development, the understanding of which may lead to improved treatment. Current work in corneal cross-linking in combination with orthokeratology was presented by Sami El Hage, OD, PhD, DSc. Corneal rehabilitation was presented by Pat Caroline, FCSLA, FAAO, Eddie Chow, OD and Charl Lass, ROtom, CAS, FOA, and new ortho-k lenses for the treatment of hyperopia and presbyopia were also highlighted. 
     The OAA presented Research Fellowships for their contributions to the field of orthokeratology to Norman Leach, OD, MS and Thomas Reim, OD.  Dr. Reim was also presented with the Excellence in Orthokeratology award for his contributions to the development of orthokeratology. For more information on the OAA visit www.okglobal.org.

Prevent Blindness America has dedicated May as UV Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the best way to protect their eyes from UV damage. In fact, the national non-profit group has a dedicated web resource, the "Prevent Blindness America UV Learning Center," sponsored by Transitions Optical, Inc., which provides free information on UV, tips on purchasing the best eye protection and even a quiz to test UV knowledge. Consumers are invited to log on to http://www.preventblindness.org/uv. The group also offers a free brochure, "Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun."

The aim of this study from Portugal was to analyze surface changes of three silicone-hydrogel contact lenses after daily wear. The lenses used in this study were balafilcon A, lotrafilcon B (both surface-treated), and galyfilcon A (non surface-treated).
     To understand how and where proteins, lipids, and other contaminants change contact lenses, surface roughness was assessed through Atomic Force Microscopy Tapping Mode. Roughness parameters were Mean Surface roughness (R(a)), Mean-square-roughness (R(q)), and Maximum roughness (R(max)). The surface topography of unworn and worn lenses was also mapped in great detail.
     Contact lenses roughness parameters exhibited different values before and after wear and the surface appearance also changed. After wear, balafilcon A and galyfilcon A showed a significant increase on surface roughness parameters, being this increase more accentuated to galyfilcon A. In lotrafilcon B materials no significant changes were observed with wear.
     The authors concluded that the present study suggests that surface treatment of silicone-hydrogel contact lenses can play a role in the prevention of a significant increase in roughness, and contribute to the better clinical tolerance of these lenses.
Lira M, Santos L, Azeredo J, Yebra-Pimentel E, Oliveira ME. Comparative study of silicone-hydrogel contact lenses surfaces before and after wear using atomic force microscopy. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2008 May;85(2):361-7. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

This week I had a conversation with a colleague regarding research, theories and clinical perspectives on myopia progression and myopia management. It is interesting that some patients want to know and will do anything you advise regarding preventing an increase in myopia even as small as a half diopter. Other patients, some of which have moderate to high prescriptions, don't seem to care if their prescription is a -7.00 or a -7.50. There is plenty of research information on undercorrecting the distance prescription, incorporating an add, orthokeratology and taking spectacles off to read as it pertains to myopia management. Of course, as eye care providers, we have to look at the complete clinical picture, not just the prescription alone, and then factor in the knowledge we have gained from research. I don't claim to be an expert in managing myopia progression but I value the work performed by Jeff Walline, OD, PhD presented in a story above. Like most of you I try to educate patients using research and clinical experience to help patients make the best decision about spectacle and contact lens wearing habits.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: research on patient compliance, piggyback lenses for patients with irregular corneas, measuring intraocular pressure over higher modulus lenses, and part 1 of our 2007 AAO update.