If you are having trouble viewing this email, please use the address below:
http://www.cltoday.com/issues/CLToday_052508.htm

 Sunday, May 25, 2008 A free weekly e-mail newsletter brought to you by: 
CLToday Contact Lens Spectrum
Edited by Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O. and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum
This week CLToday® reaches more than 14,000 readers in 74 countries. 
  Submit News | Newsletter Archive | Subscribe | Contact Us www.cltoday.com | www.clspectrum.com  

FDA Committee to Review Contact Lens Care Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the June 10, 2008 meeting of the Ophthalmic Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee will discuss general issues concerning the post market experience with various contact lens care products. The discussion will include recommendations on contact lens care product development topics such as preclinical testing and clinical performance measures, and labeling for contact lenses and lens care products.
     Interested persons may present data, information or views, orally or in writing. Written submissions may be made on or before June 5, 2008. Oral presentations from the public will also be scheduled. For more information view the Federal Register notice at http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E8-11451.htm.

Pennsylvania College of Optometry Becomes a University

On July 1, 2008, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) will officially make the transition from a college to a university. The institution will adopt the name Salus University. Salus, a Latin word for health and well-being, was unanimously adopted by the Board of Trustees as an expression of the institution's dedication to the preservation of the health and well-being of the communities its graduates serve.
     "The university's name supports the institution's vision of an academic community that emphasizes a holistic approach to education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and includes a commitment to interdisciplinary learning," according to Salus University President Thomas L. Lewis, O.D., Ph.D. "Our faculty, students, staff and Board of Trustees realize that, as this institution grows and becomes more complex, the name Salus will offer direction, underscoring the value of inter-disciplinary education and early clinical experience that are the hallmarks of our innovative curriculum."
     Established in Philadelphia in 1919, PCO was the nation's first nonprofit, independent college of optometry. Over the past 25 years, the College has broadened its focus to include other disciplines and currently offers a total of seven graduate and two professional degrees. In addition to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, PCO today is comprised of the PCO School of Audiology, four programs in Graduate Studies in Vision Impairment and a Physician Assistant program. Through its Center for International Studies, the College brings students and practicing optometrists to Philadelphia through its optometric programs in 17 countries around the world.  

Unilens Launches Aspheric C-Vue Daily Disposable Lens

Unilens Vision Inc., announced the launch of the new C-Vue 1 Day ASV (Aspheric Single Vision), which is the first aspheric, daily disposable contact lens sold under the C-Vue brand.
    According to Unilens, the C-Vue 1 Day ASV lens is easy to fit and designed with aspheric optics that provide superb comfort and an improved depth of focus at all ranges. Per the company, it is ideal for low level astigmats and early presbyopes, among others.
     "With the continued success of our best selling C-Vue Multifocal lenses, C-Vue Toric Multifocal and C-Vue ASV we are now pleased to offer our very first daily disposable single vision solution," stated Michael Pecora, Chief Executive Officer of Unilens Vision Inc. "This new offering expands the Company's portfolio of soft lens products, serving the rapidly growing one-time use daily disposable single vision market."
     For additional information on the company and its products visit www.unilens.com.

Comfort for Performance

Now is the perfect time to fit more of your patients in ACUVUE® OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort and Class 1 UV blocking* for great protection against UV rays. To learn more about our innovations in comfort, vision and health, go to:
*Product and UV Information  
 Important Safety Information
--ADVERTISING

CLSA Plans for New Mexico

The Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA) has announced that its 2009 Annual Education Meeting will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 18-21, 2009. Education is planned at all levels with an emphasis on intermediate to advanced level contact lens fitting. The program will include faculty from opticianry and allied health professionals, optometry and ophthalmology, and is geared toward all who have an interest in contact lens fitting. If you're interested in presenting at the meeting, send your inquiry to clsa@clsa.info. For more information on the CLSA and its annual meeting, visit www.clsa.info

OWL Elects Markward to Advisory Board

Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL) has elected Abigail Markward to its advisory board. Ms. Markward is Director of Marketing Communications, Surgical Products, Bausch & Lomb. "We are pleased and honored to have Abigail join the leadership team," said Jaci M. Lindstrom, co-founder and immediate past president, OWL. "With Abby's strong commitment and enthusiasm, the organization will continue to reach, educate and develop an even greater number of future women leaders around the world."
     Founded five years ago, OWL promotes professional development, networking opportunities and personal growth for women in the ophthalmic industry and has more than more than 500 members worldwide. For additional information, visit www.owlsite.org.

Vision for Life

Imagine not being able to work or look after your family simply because you don't have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
Take the World Sight Day Challenge
         ...and give sight - and hope - to people in need.
Register at www.givingsight.org or contact 1-888-OGS-GIVE / usa@givingsight.org.
--ADVERTISING

Abstract: Lens Care Solutions and Silver Impregnation of Cases Effect on Bacterial Transmission

Netherlands' researchers investigated the killing efficacies of multipurpose lens care solutions on planktonic and biofilm bacteria grown in polypropylene contact lens storage cases with and without silver impregnation and effects on bacterial transmission from storage cases to silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
     For transmission studies, biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus 835 or Pseudomonas aeruginosa no. 3 were grown on lens storage cases and incubated with a contact lens in different multipurpose lens care solutions (Opti-Free Express, ReNu MultiPlus, and SoloCare Aqua) or 0.9% NaCl. In addition, planktonic bacteria were directly suspended in multipurpose solutions and their killing efficacies were determined. The numbers of transmitted live and dead bacteria on the lenses were measured using a combination of plate counting and fluorescence microscopy.
     The highest killing efficacies were shown by Opti-Free Express for planktonic as well as for biofilm bacteria. Silver impregnation of lens cases in combination with the prescribed solution increased the killing efficacy for P. aeruginosa in biofilms, whereas effects for S. aureus were minor. Lowest numbers of live and dead bacteria were transmitted to a lens in Opti-Free Express multipurpose solution, with no significant differences between lens types and no effects of silver impregnation.
Vermeltfoort PB, Hooymans JM, Busscher HJ, van der Mei HC. Bacterial transmission from lens storage cases to contact lenses-Effects of lens care solutions and silver impregnation of cases. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2008 Apr 24.

Reader Commentary: More on Daily Disposables

Here are more comments from readers in response to Contact Lenses Today's Fitting Tip for May 2008 and last week's comment from Dr. Chatelain.
     I agree with Dr. Chatelain that daily disposables are a good option, but they are not for every patient. We all know that a large percentage of our patients over wear their contact lenses. For these patients, higher Dk materials (like silicone hydrogels) would probably be more appropriate.   
Anthony Wecker, O.D.
Big Rapids, MI
     I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Chatelain. Daily disposable contact lenses are by far the best choice for most patients. They are by far the safest, healthiest, most comfortable modality for our patients. About 90% of my eligible patients wear one day contact lenses. Daily disposables comprise greater than 70% of the Japanese market and about 50% of the European market. Do they know something that we in the United States do not?
Michael Greenberg, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.
Chagrin Falls, OH

Editor's Commentary: Silicone Hydrogel Daily Disposable

I've asked a number of practitioners their thoughts on whether our patients need a silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens. Some practitioners, who are not avid daily disposable lens fitters but do fit silicone hydrogel lenses routinely, have stated they feel this will be a welcome addition to their soft lens offering and are waiting for a silicone hydrogel daily disposable lens. Others, whose fitting modality of choice when lens parameters are available is daily disposable, have stated they think this is overkill. As an avid fitter of both silicone hydrogels and daily disposables, my opinion is somewhere in the middle. I'd like to provide my patients with a healthy, comfortable, convenient, cost effective lens that provides excellent vision. I think this comes in many forms and is patient dependent. I'm sure I'd have patients that I'd fit into a silicone hydrogel daily disposable, so the question then becomes how many.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: the latest advancements in silicone hydrogel lenses, complications relating to over wear of hydrogel lenses, the growing popularity of silicone hydrogel lenses on a university campus, and part one of our 2007 AAO update. 

Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.

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.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com. Your tip may be selected as best of the month. See http://www.CLToday.com for details. Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
For more information on Contact Lenses Today including archives of previous issues or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit our website at www.cltoday.com. For the latest articles on contact lenses, important clinical information and helpful tools related to the contact lens practice visit the Contact Lens Spectrum website at www.clspectrum.com.
CLToday Services: Subscribe; Unsubscribe; submit news to news@cltoday.com.
Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. ©2008 by Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins VisionCare Group, 1300 Virginia Drive, Suite 400, Fort Washington PA 19034, phone 215-643-8000

Contact Lens Spectrum | 1300 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034

If you prefer not to receive e-mail from us, please use the following link to remove your e-mail address from our list: Unsubscribe

This message was transmitted by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins VisionCare Group | 1300 Virginia Drive, Suite 400, Fort Washington, PA 19034 | 215-643-8000

View Our Privacy Policy | Contact Us - Please do not reply to this e-mail message.

Please make sure our e-mail messages don't get marked as spam by adding lwwvisioncare-media.com to your "approved senders" list.