June 12, 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.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Nike MAXSIGHT sport-tinted contact lens from Bausch & Lomb for market distribution. The news lens uses Light Architecture optics to selectively filter specific wavelengths of light to enhance key visual elements like a ball or background, according to B&L. It also reduces sun glare during various outdoor activities. The soft lens is made of polymacon and is approved for daily wear. http://www.bausch.com.

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New Dry Eye Drug Seeks Approval
Inspire Pharmaceuticals has amended and submitted its New Drug Application with the FDA for approval to market diquafosol tetrasodium for the treatment of dry eye. The drug stimulates the release of natural tear components, targeting all three mechanisms of action involved in tear secretion: mucin, lipids and fluid. http://www.inspirepharm.com

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Taylor named Executive Director of SCO.
The Southern Council of Optometrists (SoCO) has named Elizabeth Taylor as its new Executive Director. Ms. Taylor will manage the council as well as the annual SECO International meeting. With more than 15 years of management experience in the ophthalmic industry, Ms. Taylor is the former senior director of operations and meetings for the Vision Council of America (VCA) in Alexandra, Va.

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ACUVUE ADVANCE Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR
provide 97% of all the oxygen that would be available if you weren’t wearing lenses at all. However, there are many other valuable properties besides oxygen that may influence long-term corneal health, comfort and, ultimately, patient satisfaction. These properties include moisture, modulus (stiffness), UV protection and lens design and fit. ACUVUE ADVANCE with HYDRACLEAR delivers all the oxygen benefits of silicone, while providing all day comfort, Class 1 UV protection^†* and the fit and feel of a traditional hydrogel.
† Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
* 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, 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.
--ADVERTISING

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CIBA Names Minno Head of Contact Lens R&D.
George Minno, Pd.D., has been appointed head of CIBA Vision’s global lens care research and development. Dr. Minno holds a doctorate in biochemistry and has more than 20 years of experience developing new products and therapies in the eye care industry. He has also held various technical and marketing positions for companies like Bausch & Lomb, Alcon Laboratories and Alimera Sciences Inc., a start-up ophthalmic pharmaceutical company.

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Texas O.D. Receives 2nd CL Patent.
Dr. Thomas Baugh, owner of Main Street Optical in Denison, Texas, has been granted a patent for his decentered bifocal soft contact lens design. The patent follows the first patent issued to Dr. Baugh for his translating multifocal contact lens. Dr. Baugh’s work has been referenced in several subsequent patents. He can be reached at 903-465-8214.

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Annual AOCLE Mertz Travel Award
The Association of Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE) held its annual workshop from June 2-5, in Traverse City, Mich. Two new contact lens educators were awarded the George Mertz travel Award, which provides them with free accommodations for the meeting. Dr. Earlena McKee, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, and Dr. Jean-Sebastian Dufour, University of Montreal, were this year’s recipients.

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Abstract: Contact Lens Wearers At More Risk for Dry Eye
Researchers at Ohio State University compared self-reported dry eye disease across contact lens wearers, spectacle wearers and clinical emmetropes. Of the 893 subjects involved, about 29% reported having dry eyes. Contact lens wearers were most likely to report dry eye disease (52%), followed by the spectacle group (24%) and emmetropes (7%). Overall, results showed contact lens wearer are more likely to experience frequent symptoms and an increase in symptoms throughout the day.
Nichols JJ, Ziegler C, Mitchell GL, Nichols KK. Self-Reported Dry Eye Disease across Refractive Modalities. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Jun;46(6):1911-4.

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Editor's Commentary: Dry Eye Observation
I have an observation about my dry eyes. When I am tired, or reading a lot, or dehydrated, or eat too much chocolate, my eyes bother me more from what I call dry eye. The air conditioning is not helping either.
I think we can do a lot about dry eye, even before we put a drop in the eye, although I must have my drops when I wake up in the morning. Here’s my prescription: get some sleep, take breaks from reading and blink, drink so much water you have to urinate often, cut the chocolate and keep your environment from getting too dry. Don’t do things that dehydrate you too much, take your vitamins and get your Omega-3 fatty acids. (I like tuna and salmon.)

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Fitting Tip: Makeup Removal
With more women wearing contact lenses than men, one of the most common complaints of contact lens wear (oily, filmy, gritty lenses) is often caused by compliance issues related to makeup removal.
When asking female patients how they remove their makeup at night, the answers amazed me. Vaseline, baby oil, Crisco oil and a whole array of oily, petroleum-based products that surely contaminate the lid margin area and mix with the tear chemistry in a non-productive way.
Suggesting Lid Scrubs by Occu Soft has become an effective tool in managing complaints of oily, filmy contact lenses. The Lid Scrubs remove makeup well and actually clean out the lid margin area, too. You can find complimentary Lid Scrubs in the Optimum GP solution starter kits. Suggest this to your female patients and you’ll have less complaints and happier patients.
-Keith Parker
President, Advanced Vision Technologies

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