CooperVision announced the appointment of Juan Carlos Aragon to the position of President Asia Pacific. Juan Carlos, known as "JC," has more than 20 years of experience within the contact lens industry, both as an international business leader, and as an optometrist, according to the company. 
     Since 2000, Juan Carlos has held several positions within CooperVision. His most recent assignment was President, Latin America. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of International Marketing and Business Operations.  
     Before joining CooperVision, Juan Carlos worked with CIBA Vision, where he established their Latin America business. While at CIBA, he was promoted to Head of International Business. Prior to CIBA, he worked with Bausch & Lomb, Inc., in the professional and clinical affairs groups.
     "JC's passion for the customer, in-depth sales and marketing experience, and broad business acumen provide CooperVision with an extremely strong leader," said John Weber, President, CooperVision. "His previous international assignments-and understanding of diverse cultures and worldwide business dynamics-supply the core competencies CooperVision needs in Asia Pacific, where there is a potential for achieving tremendous success."

Lensco announced the launch of Zenith LD, a large diameter gas permeable lens incorporating an easy to understand secondary and peripheral curve system.
     According to the company, using a large diameter lens allows the practitioner fitting success with problematic fits such as irregular corneas, globus kones, pellucid marginal degeneration, post penetrating keratoplasty, post refractive surgery, and keratoconus, resulting in optimal patient comfort.
     The Zenith LD lens design is available in 10.8mm through 11.5mm and in a power range of +20.00 diopters to -20.00 diopters. For additional information on Zenith LD, contact Grant Parsons at 800-528-1175, extension 205.

Nearly 200 optometrists made Optometry Giving Sight their International Charity of Choice at the Vision Source North American Meeting in Orlando, Florida in April, raising almost $100,000 for people who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error. 
     This was the second year in a row that delegates to the Conference have supported Optometry Giving Sight in such numbers, prompting CEO Professor Brien Holden to praise the network for their generosity and influence. "The support of Vision Source has been directly responsible for funding projects in Africa and Asia over the past year that have screened more than 1 million adults and children and dispensed more than 50,000 pairs of glasses," he said. "The ongoing commitment that we receive from the Executive and members of Vision Source means that millions more will receive access to services, training and infrastructure support this year and next."
     For more information on Optometry Giving Sight visit www.givingsight.org or call 1-888-OGS-GIVE.  

Athletes, teens, part-time wearers, and those who are solution-sensitive, suffer from allergies or frequently travel are all great 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand Contact Lens candidates. All these patient types and more can benefit from the long lasting comfort of LACREON™ technology, the convenience of fresh lenses every day and the protection of Class II UV blocking.* Improve the quality of life for more patients by prescribing 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand. To learn more, go to:
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The Vision Care Institute, LLC (TVCI) is partnering with leading optometry schools and colleges throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to extend its professional-level training opportunities for optometry students with distance learning and live programming at on-campus satellite centers. The Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry (IAUPR) is the sixth optometry school to participate.   
     "The satellite learning centers provide a direct link between the main campus of The Vision Care Institute in Jacksonville, Fla., and the optometry schools, enhancing students' experiences with even more information and contact lens-related skills useful for their careers," says Richard Clompus, O.D., F.A.A.O., Director, TVCI.
     "Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry is an institution promoting the values of diversity, cultural competence and sharing," says Dr. Hector Santiago, Dean of IAUPR.  "The Satellite Center optimizes our capacity to communicate globally which eventually translates into the very best care for all patients."

Paragon Vision Sciences announced a surge in inquiries from doctors, consumers and distributors worldwide for Paragon CRT contact lenses for overnight contact lens corneal reshaping. The increase follows the April 25 FDA hearing regarding LASIK surgery.  
     Although Paragon CRT provides similar visual benefits as LASIK in that patients can see all day without glasses or daytime contact lenses, according to the company, CRT provides other significant benefits for both children and adults as it's temporary and reversible.
    Paragon estimates that 4,000 practitioners in the United States already fit CRT lenses and there are well over 200,000 consumers, including adults and children, who have been successfully fit. For more information visit www.paragoncrt.com. 

Researchers from the Department of Ophthalmology, Trakya University in Turkey investigated the conjunctival cytologic changes induced by different contact lens materials and contact lens-wearing periods in asymptomatic contact lens wearers.
     Seventy-five patients (150 eyes) who were to wear contact lenses for the first time were evaluated in this study. Forty eyes of 20 soft hydroxyethylmethacrylate (vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer) contact lens wearers, 70 eyes of 35 soft Polymacon contact lens wearers, and 40 eyes of 20 hard gas-permeable contact lens wearers used the lenses on a daily-wear basis. Conjunctival cytologic changes were investigated by using impression cytology. Impression cytologic samples were obtained before contact lens fitting and after contact lens wear (mean evaluation time, 6.9 +/- 2.6 months; range, 4-12 months). The samples were appropriately stained and were assessed by using the Nelson grading system and for the presence of snakelike chromatin. The Kruskal-Wallis test, the Wilcoxon test, and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
     There were statistically significant differences in impression cytologic findings for all three materials before versus after contact lens wear (P=0.00, P=0.00, P=0.00, Wilcoxon test). The contact lens-wearing period produced a statistically significant effect on conjunctival cytologic changes and snakelike chromatin formation (P=0.00, P=0.00, logistic regression analysis), but the effects of different contact lens materials were insignificant (P=0.88, P=0.62).     
     Researchers concluded that conjunctival cytologic changes occurred in asymptomatic contact lens wearers and were related to the duration of lens wear. For this reason, asymptomatic contact lens wearers may be followed up because of conjunctival cytologic changes.
Tomatir DK, Erda N, Gurlu VP. Effects of different contact lens materials and contact lens-wearing periods on conjunctival cytology in asymptomatic contact lens wearers. Eye Contact Lens. 2008 May;34(3):166-8.

Following comment is in response to Contact Lenses Today's Fitting Tip for May 2008.
     I agree with Dr. Wolfe about daily disposables in that they really help our patients during allergy season. Why not go one step further and keep them in dailies all year? Daily disposable is our first choice for our patients and currently we fit over 90% of our contact lens patients in daily disposable.
John Chatelain, O.D.
Houston, Texas

In the April 27 issue I relayed the story of the parent at my daughter's soccer game who was wearing two pair of glasses (a clear prescription for presbyopia correction and sunglasses overtop). I commented that while this was comical it should also be viewed as an opportunity for multifocal contact lenses. Since then, several of our astute readers have pointed out that she was an excellent candidate for prescription sunglasses. I wholeheartedly agree. We are all in agreement there was opportunity to recommend and then improve her ametropic and sun protective corrective options. Recommend the best option(s) for each patient and don't forget that all of your contact lens wearers should be advised to have back up spectacles. This is not about selling. This is about recommending or prescribing the right options for each patient.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.