CONTACT LENSES TODAY

May 22, 2005

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 10,000 readers in 74 countries.

Renewed Interest, Sales for GPs
The Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) reports a significant growth in the use of gas permeable contact lenses during the first four months of 2005. Dan Bell, CLMA president, also reports a jump in requests for information about GPs, especially from younger practitioners. The CLMA cites several reasons for the increase: recent developments in lens materials that enhance lens comfort and improve vision; strong demand for presbyopic contact lenses; a growing market for cornea reshaping; and increased diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus.
July Named Dry Eye Awareness Month
Although dry eye is among the most common complaints heard by eyecare practitioners, many patients are unaware of the disease and don’t understand the condition or its implications. To raise awareness of this prevalent, yet little known condition, the National Women's Health Resource Center and Allergan Inc. are partnering to declare July Dry Eye Awareness Month. For more information, go to http://www.focusondryeye.com
Children’s Vision Gets Attention of Congress
New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell introduced H.R. 2238, which if enacted, would establish a grant program, available to all states, to provide comprehensive eye exams and necessary follow-up care for its children. This bill will supplement a state’s efforts to test and treat children who don’t have the financial means to do it themselves. It also encourages states to educate parents about the importance of vision health.
ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM -- The Greatest Breakthrough in the Toric Lens Category in 15 Years
An innovation in vision care, ACUVUE ADVANCE Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM provide astigmatic patients with clear vision and exceptional comfort all day; make fittings much faster and easier; and are the first toric silicone hydrogel contact lenses on the market.
ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM features a new Accelerated Stabilization Design, which harnesses the power of the blinking eye to increase stability, minimize lens rotation and keep the lens in its proper position. It’s the second product in THE ULTRA COMFORT SERIES, offering exceptional comfort by providing all-day moisture, smooth fit, soft and flexible feel, and breathability.
http://www.ecp.acuvue.com
--ADVERTISING
Eyefinity Unveils Contact Lens Catalog
Eyefinity, the optical industry’s most widely used Internet portal, and Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc., along with Mid-South Premier Ophthalmics, have unveiled their online contact lens catalog on Eyefinity. Diversified and Mid-South Premier now offer their extensive contact lens lines, including Bausch & Lomb, CIBA Vision, Cooper Vision, Ocular Sciences and Vistakon directly to private eyecare practices through Eyefinity’s online ordering center.
New Parameters, Ads, for Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism
Beginning this week, Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism will be available in 750 skus, from plano to -6.00 in 0.25D steps, Cyls: -0.75, -1.25, -1.75; Axis: 90 & 180 +/- 20 (no obliques). Additional parameters will be available in July. Last week, national television commercials began airing for the lens. Consumers can receive a free trial pair certificate by visiting http://www.getacuvue.com
Global Ophthalmic Organization Formed
Vision association leaders from around the globe have joined to form the World Wide Vision Coalition (WWVC), an organization founded to grow the markets and to foster relationships across international borders. WWVC will provide a forum for vision leaders to share ideas and resolve issues as they pertain to international commerce. The goal is to work cooperatively to grow the global ophthalmic economy. The WWVC’s next meeting will be held in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Show and hosted by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association.
Abstract: Determining the Effect of Continuous Wear Silicone Hydrogels on Conjunctival Flora
In a study to determine the effect of 30-day continuous-wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses (Focus NIGHT & DAY) on the conjunctival flora in 15 (29 eyes) asymptomatic wearers, researchers found the number of eyes whose conjunctival cultures were sterile before using the lenses significantly decreased (P = 0.0005), and the number of eyes with a growth of coagulase-negative staphylococci and diphtheroid rods in their conjunctival cultures significantly increased after using these lenses (P = 0.001 and P = 0.031, respectively). Conversely, a statistically significant difference was not found in the number of eyes that carried Propionibacterium acnes and Fusobacterium nucleatum in their conjunctival cultures before and after using the 30-day continuous-wear silicone hydrogel lenses (P = 0.998 and P = 0.488, respectively). Researchers concluded that the results suggest the sterility of the conjunctiva significantly decreased after using 30-day continuous-wear silicone hydrogel lenses. In addition, the number of bacteria of the normal conjunctival flora significantly increased after using these lenses. Contamination by the bacteria of the eyelids may be a possible colonization factor in this study group. Therefore, researchers said it is appropriate to examine the patients who wear these lenses more frequently.
Iskeleli G, Bahar H, Eroglu E, Torun MM, Ozkan S. Microbial changes in conjunctival flora with 30-day continuous-wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses.Eye Contact Lens 2005 May;31(3):124-6.
Editor's Commentary: A Reminder About Lens Sharing
Cleveland ophthalmologist Tim Steinemann, who has reported numerous serious complications from contact lenses purchased from nonprofessional vendors, reminds us that contact lenses might find their way into the wrong hands. For example cosmetic lenses all too often have been used by teenagers who purchased them from nonprofessional vendors. Ask your teenage patients if they ever wear lenses from other sources (flea markets, gas stations, tattoo shops, or their friends) and warn them against it. Whether they do it for cosmetic appeal or sports, all too often kids are wearing unprescribed or some other person’s lenses. Telling patients that their contact lenses are the same as Rx medicines, and are only for them to use, may be a good precaution.
Fitting Tip: CL Specifications Rx
I agree that all patients should receive a copy of their current contact lens prescription, after the fitting process is complete or their annual examination has verified that their current prescription is still correct. The complete contact lens specification prescription doesn’t exist until the complete fitting process is finished for a new patient. So, for a current wearer who has no problems at his annual examination, I present him with a written copy of his contact lens specifications, complete with replacement schedule, material, all lens specifications necessary for duplication and an expiration date at the conclusion of his annual evaluation. For new wearers or those requiring refit, I provide the same specification information at the last follow-up visit when I complete the refitting process.
Obviously, to refit a GP lens wearer, you need to supply the first pair of contact lenses to complete the process and to ensure the correct prescription. For a soft wearer, I include the trial lenses as part of the fitting process. Patients usually choose to order replacement rigid lenses from our office, where we dispense each new rigid lens with a dispensing check by the doctor.
--Patricia M. Keech, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Shoreline, Wash.
Have You Made Plans for the Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS)?
(July 28 to 31, 2005 in Chicago, Ill. -- for the first time in the U.S.A.)
Get the tools to implement orthokeratology in your practice. Register by June 30, 2005 to save $65 off the full symposium price. For more information, go to: http:// www.gos2005.com

 
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, review techniques for measuring the cornea’s oxygen needs and re-examine the Holden-Mertz criterion for ensuring that a contact lens is able to meet those needs, read about the use of impression cytology to assess ocular surface health after continuous wear, and explore the use of silicone hydrogels as part of a high-Dk piggyback lens system paired with intrastromal ring inserts for the management of keratoconus.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
Access a reporting form for complications you've seen that were a result of contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescription at the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO's) Web site: http://www.arbo.org/arbo.asp?dt=R&doc=Complications. Complete and send the form online or print it out and fax it to (866) 886-6164.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free golf shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.
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