CONTACT LENSES TODAY
May 6, 2007
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.
FDA Approves Inspire’s Azasite
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Inspire Pharmaceutical for its Azasite (azithromycin ophthalmic) 1% for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. The
company plans to launch the drug in the third quarter of this year. The company says the drug offers patients a reduced dosing regimen when compared with similar products currently available. The recommended dosing
regimen is one drop twice-a-day for two days, followed by one drop once-a-day for five days. Azasite is indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by CDC coryneform group G, Staphylococcus
aureus, Streptococcus mitis group, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenza.
Greater UV-B Exposure in Morning, Late Afternoon
Research presented at this year’s 111th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society in Osaka shows during Spring, Summer and Fall seasons, UV exposure to the eye during early
morning and late afternoon hours was nearly double that of the mid-morning/early afternoon period most commonly thought to be peak sun exposure time. Researchers used a specially designed model to measure and record
the amount of UV-B rays entering the eye from sunrise to sunset, in September and November of 2006. On Sept. 21, the two highest points in the UV exposure test were recorded around 9:00a.m. and from 2:00p.m. to
3:00p.m. UV exposure to the eye between 10:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. was nearly half of the highest UV exposure points in the morning and evening.
PBA Launches UV Awareness Site
In a recent survey sponsored by Transitions Optical, 82% of respondents knew that extended exposure to the sun could cause skin cancer, but only 9% knew it could damage vision. What’s
more, one in six respondents said they wear sunglasses when they prepare for extended sun exposure and only about one-third said they wear a hat. In conjunction with UV Awareness month in May, Prevent Blindness
America (PBA) has launched a dedicated online resource for patients to learn more about what they can do to protect their eyes. The site,
http://www.preventblindness.org/uv offers a variety of tools and information on topics such as risk factors and buying tips for sunglasses. The site was made possible
by a grant from the Transitions Health Sight for Life Fund.
Feeling Less Is Worth More
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friction than PureVision™, and approximately 15 times less friction than Night & Day™. With an average of 11,000 blinks per day, patients will benefit from a smooth lens, and your practice will benefit
by offering a lens that increases patient satisfaction.
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Abstract:
Solution Toxicity Associated with Inflammation
Researchers at the Vision Cooperative Research Centre in Sydney recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between solution toxicity and corneal infiltrative events (CIEs) in
soft contact lens daily wear. They analyzed several, nonrandomized interventional clinical trials between May and November 2005. Subjects wore commercially available soft contact lenses bilaterally, on a daily-wear
schedule and disinfected overnight using marketed lens care solutions for three months with monthly disposal of lenses. Solution toxicity was defined as diffuse punctate staining in at least four or five areas of the
cornea after instillation of fluorescein. They used first events of corneal staining or infiltrates to calculate incidence.
They found toxic staining in 77 of 609 patients and all CIEs were mild
and symptomatic or asymptomatic. They found the incident of CIEs in eyes with a predisposition to toxic staining was 6.7% compared with 2.3% in unaffected eyes. CIEs were three-times more likely to occur in eyes that
exhibited solution toxicity compared with the unaffected eyes. Previous events of limbal redness were not associated with CIEs. The rate of CIEs increased as the rate of toxic staining increased for specific lens
type-solution combinations. Peroxide-based solutions consistently showed the lowest rates of toxic staining and corneal inflammation.
Investigators conclude that eyes that experience solution
toxicity are more likely to experience a CIE. They recommend routine examination with sodium fluorescein for daily-, soft lens-wearers soon after the lenses are applied and suggest investigating alternative
solutions/lens type combinations if toxic staining is detected.
Carnt N, Jalbert I, Stretton S, Naduvilath T Papas E. Solution toxicity in soft contact lens daily wear is associated with corneal inflammation. Optom Vis Sci. 2007 Apr;84(4):309-15.
Editor's Commentary:
Sharing Your Knowledge
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your good ideas with your colleagues, your comments, your advice on patient management, care, treatment, prescribing for any contact lens-related event or suggestions on lens designs, material or replacement lens
care options. We'd love to hear from you. Just click on our email address here (tips@cltoday.com) and tell us what you think.