CooperVision announced a partnership with Armed Forces Eyewear, reinforcing the global contact lens manufacturer's commitment to serving the U.S. military community. Through a unique micro-site, www.ArmedForcesContactLenses.com, military personnel and their families can learn more about CooperVision's portfolio and click through to www.ArmedForcesEyewear.com to purchase CooperVision's contact lenses affordably, and get guaranteed delivery wherever they are located around the world.
     "As a former member of the U.S. Armed Services, I understand and appreciate the unique demands placed on our military personnel and their families," stated John Weber, President of CooperVision. "It is important we support our service members and their families. The new CooperVision program will make it easier for patients to experience the performance and value of CooperVision's lenses. CooperVision is honored to be a strategic partner in this exciting initiative."
     Additionally, a percentage of each CooperVision contact lens purchase will be donated to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) fund to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs aimed at improving the quality of life for troops. Programs range from youth services and Armed Forces Recreation Centers, to arts and crafts and aquatic centers.

WatchDog Group LLC, distributor of the LensAlert contact lens and case reminder timer, recently launched a website to help young contact lens wearers learn and remember healthy lens care rules. The website, www.ContactLensCareForKids.com, is designed to teach serious lens care rules in a fun and refreshing way.
     The website includes Dog Gone Good Lens Care Tips, plus interactive elements like the What's Your Lens Care IQ? quiz and a video of The Contact Lens Care Song which is also available on You Tube. There are links to other videos on contact lens care from the FDA and the AOA, as well as information on the LensAlert contact lens and case reminder timer and the LensAlert Contact Lens Care Kit.
     Eyecare practitioners are invited to send young patients to the site. For more information on Lens Alert products, visit www.lensalert.com.

The American Optometric Society (AOS) announced that Founding Member and Vice President of Communications, Dr. Art Epstein, has tendered his resignation from the AOS Board of Directors. Dr. Epstein cited the rapid growth of the American Board of Clinical Optometry (ABCO), of which he is President and Executive Director, and the need to devote more time to that organization. He also cited a growing concern about potential conflicts of interest in light of his growing responsibilities with ABCO.
     "The decision to resign was not an easy one. I believe strongly in the mission of the AOS. I've never worked with a more dedicated or talented group of leaders and I can leave knowing that the AOS is in great hands. In the end, it was the surprisingly rapid growth of the American Board of Clinical Optometry that made it impossible for me to give the AOS the time and attention it deserves," Epstein said.
     Speaking on behalf of the AOS, President Dr. Pam Miller expressed the sentiments of the AOS board: "It is with great understanding, but deep regret that the AOS board accepted Dr. Epstein's resignation. While we understand that it is the right decision and will allow him to focus on his work with the ABCO, his counsel and insight will be missed. The board thanks him for his foresight, commitment, and continued unwavering support of the organization and the profession."

Retention. Referrals. Return visits. Repurchase. You can see a robust growth in these areas of your practice if you satisfy every need of your contact lens patients. This means realizing that contact lenses mean more to your patients than simply vision correction. Contact lenses mean a significant lifestyle choice with emotional strings attached. Offering your patients comfortable contact lenses alone is not enough. Your patients expect more. They want contact lenses that offer hygiene, convenient modalities that can keep the lenses fresh, protection against UV exposure, and more. A tall order, but one you may well be able meet with ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses.  

Just look at these facts. 9 out of 10 ACUVUE® Brand wearers stay in ACUVUE® Brand lenses, helping reduce chair time and unscheduled visits.¹ And more patients recommend ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses to their friends and family than any other lens.¹ When it comes to returning patients, again ACUVUE® Brand lenses lead the way with 15% more 2-week patients returning within 1 year for their annual exam than monthly patients, enabling more frequent assessment of vision and ocular health.¹ Finally, when it comes to repurchase, an overwhelming majority of patients - 9 out of 10 who wear ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses and ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM - say they would definitely/probably buy this brand again.¹
    
ACUVUE® Brand Contacts Lenses. Talk about the right contacts to grow your practice!

ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting jnjvisioncare.com.
     WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography and cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.
     REFERENCE:  1. Data on file, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
ACUVUE® and ACUVUE® OASYS® are registered trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2010
  --ADVERTISING

The American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation Board recently appointed two new members. T. Joel Byars, OD and Kerry L. Beebe, OD will each serve three-year terms.
     Byars, a graduate of Southern College of Optometry (SCO), practices in Morrow, Georgia and celebrates his 50-year anniversary as a member of the AOA. He was elected as a Trustee in 1989, served as President of the AOA from 1996 to 1997 and in 2004, was honored with SCO's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as President of the Georgia Optometric Association (GOA) where he was named "Georgia Optometrist of the Year" in 1978. In 1987, Byars was named "Optometrist of the South." GOA later honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He has also served as President of the Georgia State Board of Examiners in Optometry in 1982, 1985 and 1988.
     Beebe, who is President of Brainerd Eyecare Center and practices primary care optometry in Minnesota, graduated from the Indiana University College of Optometry in 1976. He has authored articles for professional publications on a range of optometric topics, lectured nationally and was appointed by the Governor to serve as a member of the Minnesota Rural Health Advisory Committee. Beebe served as chair of the former AOA Clinical Care Group and has been a member of the InfantSEE committee since the program's inception. In 1995, Beebe was named the AOA National Optometrist of the Year and in 2008, he received the Minnesota Optometric Association Distinguished Service Award. He was also the Minnesota Optometrist of the Year in 1985.

Reichert Technologies welcomed Deon Miller to its management team in the role of Vice President of Sales - Americas. Miller brings more than fifteen years experience in the medical products field to Reichert.
     Miller most recently held the title Director of Sales, Critical Care at B. Braun Medical, Inc. Prior to that he worked for Arrow International/Teleflex Medical where he steadily advanced within the company from Account Manager to various Sales Manager positions, and finally Director of Sales. During that time he received numerous awards for his sales accomplishments.
     Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University, with a major in marketing and minor in economics. "His extensive sales management background, along with his medical product experience will make him an asset to Reichert's management team," commented Jerry C. Cirino, Chairman and CEO. "We look forward to Deon contributing to Reichert's success in the future."

In this study researchers used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess differences in corneal epithelium features between soft contact lens (CL) wearers and non-CL wear control. In a cross-sectional survey, the corneal epithelium removed before photorefractive keratectomy in 10 soft CL wearers (10 eyes) and in 10 non-CL wearers (10 eyes) was evaluated with SEM. The aim of the study was to assess ultrastructural differences in corneal epithelium between the two groups.
     No statistically significant difference was present between the two groups as concerns the number of microvilli (P = 0.19). An amount of epithelial mucus >20% was detected in 20% of soft CL wearers and in 80% of non-CL wearers (P = 0.01). A good tolerance to CL was referred by CL wearers.
     The researchers concluded that a significant reduction of epithelial mucus at SEM evaluation was present in the CL wearers even in absence of complaints referred to CL.
Forte R, Cennamo G, Del Prete S, Cesarano I, Del Prete A. Scanning Electron Microscopy of Corneal Epithelium in Soft Contact Lens Wearers. Cornea 2010.

I want to thank all of you who responded to my request last week for information about trends in daily disposable lens prescribing. I received a massive amount of feedback not only from North American practitioners, but also from many colleagues across the globe. We are able to share only a fraction these emails, some of which are highlighted in this week's edition of CL Today and next week's as well. Please note that these views are representative of the readership - not those of the editorial staff of CL Today. I hope this information provides further insight into the trends I discussed last week. Look for more information on the topic of daily disposables and prescribing habits in an upcoming issue of Contact Lens Spectrum.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO 

I fit about 70-80% of my patients in daily disposables. It would be higher if there were more toric and even multifocal options. I wear daily disposables myself; I love them and so do my patients!  The cost is the same over the year as a two-week disposable after you factor in solutions and cases. In the past, I couldn't say that. I can say with 100% confidence that I don't have any daily disposable wearers come in with contact lens complications or infections; it just doesn't happen. In my opinion, every practitioner should offer daily disposables to every patient. Plus as an added bonus, my profit is twice as much as with monthly or two-week disposables. I believe most practitioners don't offer daily disposables because they see them as being too expensive and think that patients don't want them, but it is all how you present it to the patient. 
Jason M. Paist, OD
Limerick, PA 

In most cases I personally don't see improved health or comfort with daily disposables over two-week or monthly replacement lenses, so then it seems to come down to a value comparison with daily disposables being much more expensive. I share with patients what I would do for myself and, for someone wanting to wear contacts more than a few times per week, two-week and monthly lenses seem to be better value without compromising quality. Plus, daily disposables are limited in parameters, although this is improving.
     Also, patient comments indicate that there may be some feeling that to go through so many contact lenses with their packaging is wasteful. I'd be curious to find out why daily disposables do better in other parts of the world.
Darren Sass, OD 
British Columbia, Canada

As a contact lens wearer myself (one for whom cost is not an issue of course), I love the convenience of daily disposables when I am traveling, among a few other circumstances. However, I have to say that the reason I do not wear them everyday is that they do not match the comfort and quality of vision I have with a monthly disposable. I truly believe that the quality of a daily disposable lens is inferior to a monthly replacement (it has to be for the comparative cost per lens) and to me that manifests itself in better comfort and vision with my monthly lenses versus daily disposables for everyday use. I will continue to use daily disposables for special situations, but my monthly replacement lenses the rest of the time.
Jason Jedlicka, OD, FAAO
Minneapolis, MN

I actually fit a significant amount of daily disposables, probably in line with the international stats. I live in New England where allergy counts are quite high, so I tend to fit daily disposables to counteract the contact lens awareness and thereby minimize my dropout rate. In addition, I attempt to get young teenagers into daily disposables as well if the parents are willing to pay the higher price point. 
Michael Cooper, OD
Lancaster, MA

Until recently there was only one daily disposable lens with correction for astigmatism and it was limited to two powers and only a few axes. There are now more daily disposable lenses for astigmatism and available powers and axes have significantly expanded. It has been my experience, practicing in a community that has international representation, that patients with daily disposable lenses have been given lens powers that ignore their astigmatism in order to compensate for -0.75D or more of astigmatism. Is it that our colleagues in other countries are attempting to reduce their frequency of infectious keratitis at the cost of reduced visual acuity and efficiency? Studies have shown that the frequency of infectious keratitis has not been reduced by the use of daily disposable lenses. It has been my experience that when the patient is provided with superior visual acuity, comfort and a simple means of maintaining a monthly disposable lens, that they will give up their daily disposable to achieve the common goal of maximum visual acuity and maximum all day comfort with minimal risk for infection when the lenses are maintained as prescribed.
     In my practice there has been a commensurate increase in our use of daily disposable lenses with the introduction of more options for astigmatism and, accordingly, there will probably be a greater increase in their use in other North American practices. As we emerge from economic problems there will also be a greater demand for daily disposable lenses by patients who "just don't have the time care for contact lenses," and the greater cost is not a factor for them. I don't think their use will reach the 40% levels but will probably approach the 20% range. If someone produces a daily disposable multifocal lens that really works then the use of daily disposables will expand tremendously.
Charles D. Allen, OD, FAAO
Princeton, NJ

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: a review of the potential uses, efficacy, safety and clinical performance of antimicrobial contact lens technology.