Lensco Launches Redesigned DirectContactLenses.com Website
Kevin Lippert, President and CEO of Lensco stated, "DCL is a product which enables us to partner with the ECP to help recapture revenue that may be lost to big box and online retailers."
DirectContactLenses.com allows each individual ECP to set the pricing and load the patient prescription information. From that point, the patients are able to complete their own ordering and have their replacement lenses shipped directly to any location in the U.S. "We have built into our system some extensive recall parameters. The patient and ECP are both notified when the prescription is near expiration. Plus the patient can only order up to that date and only the maximum allowed quantity provided in the prescription", Lippert said.
For more information, visit www.directcontactlenses.com or call 1-800-441-6590.
AOCLE Honors Contact Lens Educators
At their annual workshop, the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE) presented several awards.
Dr. George Mertz was a strong advocate of contact lens education and the George Mertz New Educator Travel Award honors that commitment by inviting new contact lens educators to attend their first AOCLE workshop. This opportunity helps a novice contact lens educator to network with other educators from all the North American schools of optometry. The honorees receive a certificate and travel grant. The 2009 recipients were: Dr. Peter Kollbaum (Indiana), Dr. Dawn Lam (SCCO) and Dr. Frederic Gagnon (Montreal).
The Lester Janoff Memorial Award is presented annually to an optometric educator who has demonstrated excellence in the area of contact lens-related publications, contact lens education, and research. The 2009 award went to Dr. Edward Bennett (UMSL).
The AOCL Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an optometric educator who has demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication to the organization and contact lens education over numerous years. The award was presented for the first time to Dr. Lester Caplan, Professor Emeritus (UAB).
New Contact Lens Care Kit Value Wheel Offered by LensAlert
The company also announced that independent optometrists can receive a free sample of their Contact Lens & Case Timer by sending an email to sales director Annie Genovese at annielensalert@aol.com.
LensAlert Contact Lens & Case Timers allow patients to accurately track contact lens replacement and contact lens case replacement. Patients simply set the timer to their lens and case schedule. To learn more about LensAlert products visit www.lensalert.com.
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AOF Announces 2009 Vistakon Award of Excellence Recipients
The winners are: Laura MacDonald, Illinois College of Optometry; Trevor Graham, Indiana University School of Optometry; Nilka J. Pabn Torres, Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry; Melanie Jade Denton, Michigan College of Optometry; Anna Sleeper, The New England College of Optometry; Elizabeth L. Schulz, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry; Christen M. Russell, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry; Travis Frank Anderson, Pacific University College of Optometry; Lauren Wu, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University; Lauren Evans, The Southern California College of Optometry; Rebecca King, Southern College of Optometry; Nadine M. Jamal, State University of New York, State College of Optometry; Brittany Hoersten Ellis, The Ohio State University College of Optometry; Amy Diane Huckaby, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry; Anthony J. Rudick, University of California Berkeley School of Optometry; Jamie Houser, University of Houston College of Optometry; Dane M. Peterson, University of Missouri Saint Louis College of Optometry; Nathalie Trottier, cole d'optomtrie - Universit de Montral and Liana Wong, University of Waterloo School of Optometry.
New Consumer Information on Cataracts and Eye Infections Available on EyeSmart Website
The new cataract section on the EyeSmart site offers a comprehensive consumer guide to cataracts, including what causes them, how they are diagnosed and what treatment options are available. The section also includes a detailed description of the different kinds of IOLs to help patients determine which one would be right for them. The information on eye infections includes a convenient chart that distinguishes between the symptoms for the most common infections.
Supplementing the new resources is Ask an Eye M.D., the Academy's ongoing free public service. Ask an Eye M.D. answers selected questions from the public, and answers are posted online on an ongoing basis. In addition to answers recently submitted and posted, all answers are available in a searchable archive.
Abstract: Therapeutic and Optical Application of Semi-Limbal Diameter GP Contact Lenses
Researchers wanted to evaluate the therapeutic and optical application of a semi-limbal diameter (S-LIM) rigid gas permeable (GP) contact lens. They examined a retrospective, non-comparative case series of 14 consecutive patients (22 eyes) who were referred to one senior optometrist for the fitting of S-LIM contact lenses at Moorfields Eye Hospital. The cases comprised of 11 patients (17 eyes) with keratoconus, one patient (two eyes) post-surgical ectasia from previous LASIK, one (one eye) post-graft patient, and one patient (two eyes) who required corneal protection secondary to lagophthalmos. These patients had failed previously with other lens designs because of lens intolerance, unstable vision, chronic 3 and 9 o'clock corneal staining, and inadequate corneal protection for the patient with lagophthalmos. A conventional method of using diagnostic lenses with fluorescein assessment was adopted in fitting the S-LIM lenses.
The median duration of problems encountered with previous lenses was four years (range 0.5-10 years). The median visual acuity with the S-LIM lens was 20/30 (range 20/16-20/80). A median of one diagnostic lens (range 1-3 lenses) was required to achieve a satisfactory fit. At the last recorded follow-up, 10 patients (14 eyes) had no clinically observable problem and were wearing their lenses with a median wearing time of 8 hours per day (range 1-18 hours). The median duration of follow up was six months (range 2-18 months). One patient (one eye) abandoned lens wear because of satisfactory unaided vision.
The researchers concluded that the use of a semi-limbal diameter lens can be an effective modality in patients with intolerance to other lens designs. However, lens modification from the standard design and the use of ocular lubricants are often required to optimize lens fit and to enhance tolerance.
Evans J, Hau S. The therapeutic and optical application of a rigid gas permeable semi-limbal diameter contact lens. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2009.
Editor's Commentary: The Value of Research
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO
Report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule at: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.