CONTACT LENSES TODAY
June 11, 2006
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.
Imperial Optical’s Solus Line Now Available in U.S
Imperial Optical has entered into an agreement with Strategic Lens Innovations to market and distribute the Solus brand family of contact
lenses in the U.S. The company will begin distributing the Solus TCL, a custom, toric lens, and the Solus 55a, an aspheric, one-two week disposable, UV-blocking, soft lens,
immediately. Imperial expects the Solus Soft K to be available by mid-summer. The Solus Platinum line, made with Hioxyfilcon, will be introduced on a rolling basis over the
second half of this year and the first half of 2007.
The company’s agreement with Strategic Lens Innovations prevents the restriction of sales only to independent
eyecare channels. However, Imperial says it will hold true to its single-tiered pricing structure so independent eyecare professionals will pay the same price as buying
groups, retail chains and wholesale clubs.
Allergan Wins Acular Patent Infringement Suit
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled in favor of Allergan and Syntex in a patent infringement suit
against Apotex and Novex Pharma. Apotex previously filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market a copy of Allergan’s NSAID, Acular (kertorolac tromethamine
ophthalmic 0.5%). After a rehearing of the matter, on June 2, the court found that the Defendants’ ANDA infringes on U.S. patent
No. 5,110,493 and that the patent is
valid and enforceable. The court ruled that the effective date of any approval of the defendants’ ANDA may not occur before the patent expires in 2009. The defendants
are also enjoined from making any preparations to make, use, sell or offer for sale ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic 0.5% in the U.S.
Sauflon Introduces Aspheric CL
Sauflon USA recently introduced the Sauflon 55UV Aspheric, which features an aspheric front surface and UVA/UVB protective material. The
company says its Advanced Edge Design manufacturing process ensures all day comfort and improves lens handling. The lens is available in powers from -10.00D to +8.00D.
Trial sets and retail six-packs are available exclusively to practitioners.
Because the World Is a Very Dry
Place
Whether they’re staring at a computer or feeling the effects of dry heat or air conditioning, contact lens wearers face daily challenges to keep their eyes comfortable.
Forty-two percent of all contact lens wearers use rewetting drops at least once a day. Challenging environments can leave eyes feeling tired and dry. ACUVUE®
OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus, the next step in the ULTRA COMFORT SERIES™, offers Eye Care Professionals a way to keep these
sufferers and potential dropouts wearing contact lenses. The ultra breathable lens (Dk/t = 147) keeps feeling fresh even in adverse environments, leading to greater
patient satisfaction.
--ADVERTISING
New HQ for ABB Optical
ABB Optical, currently located in Fort Lauderdale, recently acquired a 76,000 square-foot warehouse and office facility in Coral Springs,
Fla. The company will move its headquarters to the new facility in 2007. The move will more than double the size of the company’s Florida distribution center and corporate
offices. ABB says this is necessary to accommodate the company’s rapid expansion and increased sales revenue.
Global Keratoconus Congress 2007
Mark your calendars for the first-ever Global Keratoconus Congress to be held January 26-28, 2007 in Las Vegas. The Global Keratoconus
Congress is an assembly of experts in the field of patient care, teaching and research. They will share the latest information on this chronic sight-threatening condition
that affects one in 2,000 people. Attendees will learn about the latest approaches to contact lens fitting, surgical techniques, clinical research and appropriate
third-party reimbursement for medically necessary contact lens care. Manufacturers and laboratories that support the care of these patients will assist in demonstrating
the usefulness of their latest products and treatments. More information will be coming soon.
Abstract:
Povidone-iodine as Contact Lens Disinfectant
Japanese researchers at the Yamaguchi University School of Medicine’s Department of Biomolecular Recognition and Ophthalmology recently
investigated the disinfection properties and safety of Povidone-iodine (PVP-1) for use as a contact lens solution. PVP-1 possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
and is used clinically as a disinfectant. They found PVP-1 reduced the number of
Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans by three log units at lower concentrations than
hydrogen peroxide, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and benzalkonium chloride (BAK). PVP-1 also had lower toxicity for cultured human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells
versus the other three agents. They conclude that PVP-1 had the greatest safety profile of the agents tested and that is appears suited for use as a contact lens
solution.
Yanai R, Yamada N, Ueda K, et al. Evaluation of povidone-iodine. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2006 May;29(2):85-91.
Editor's Commentary:
GP Lens Binding
I may have mentioned this before, but it’s ok to be redundant on this topic. I am working with a patient who has a recurrent case of GP
lens binding. The patient’s lens on one eye was getting very scratched. We replaced it with a lens that had a very similar design and material compared with the previous
lens. The fit looked good at dispensing, yet the lens bound again. They always bind off center. The patient is a high-myope and the lens is bitoric. I think the major
issue is that when wearing time is too long, the epithelium never gets enough time to really heal well and the lens migrates off center. This situation is setting up a
hydrophobic post-lens environment (lens surface and epithelial surface). And, the decentration causes a distorted cornea and makes a hydrophobic bed for the lens to
stick in. The major treatment plan is rest from lens wear to let the ocular surface get back to normal and to keep the lens clean. If a change in lens design is necessary,
it should be directed at keeping the lens centered. I wonder if the new plasma treatments of GP lens surfaces will help these cases?
Fitting Tip:
Give Patients Fair Warning
I’ve always been a diehard peroxide system advocate and considered this oxidation care system the gold standard of soft lens care. With a
practice limited to contact lenses, I’ve seen far fewer complications due to chemical hypersensitivity or toxicity reactions. However, anyone who has prescribed peroxide
systems is well aware of the potential for patients to inadvertently burn their eye. My staff and I make it a point to strongly advise the peroxide user to immediately
place the care system bottle on a separate shelf after closing the disinfecting cup. This keeps the bottle out of view, which helps reduce the temptation for the patient
to use it the next morning as a rinse. We also point out the platinum-coated disc and explain its role in neutralization along with the reasons that patients can’t use just
any case.
Michael Feldman, O.D.
Lynbrook, N.Y.
The Global Orthokeratology Symposium presents "Fundamentals of Corneal Reshaping"
— a newly formatted educational experience for 2006. Held in conjunction with the Southern California College of Optometry, this 2-day course
designed for the novice or new orthokeratology practitioner will focus on patient selection, corneal topography, choosing a design — plus "live" fitting and next-day
follow-up with actual patients. Go to www.GOS2006.com for more information.
--ADVERTISING
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, review a study investigating epithelial barrier function and learn more about
the appearance and significance of ‘conjunctival epithelial flaps’ – including a case study with video footage.
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.
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