CONTACT LENSES TODAY
June 17, 2007
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.
BCLA Sees Record Attendance
More than 1,000 delegates from nearly 40 countries attended the British Contact Lens Association’s 2007 clinical conference held in Manchester from May 31 to June 3. A total of 1,018
delegates attended over the four-day conference, a 13% increase over last year’s numbers. Additional visitors to the BCLA exhibit hall brought the total just over 1,2000.
FDA Grants Contamac New Indications for Optimum
Contamac has received FDA clearance to market its Optimum materials for otherwise non-diseased eyes that require GP lenses for the management of irregular corneal conditions such as
keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration or post-penetrating keratoplasty or -refractive surgery. Existing clearances for the material include spherical, toric, multifocal, bifocal, scleral and keratoconus lens
designs.
PBS Calls for Fireworks-Free Fourth
Prevent Blindness America (PBA) is urging Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday without fireworks. According to the U.S Eye Injury Registry, bystanders are injured by
fireworks more often that operators. And, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that during the 2005 Fourth of July weekend, 6,500 people were treated in emergency rooms across the country due to
accidents caused by fireworks. There was also an increase in firework-related injuries, with 10,800 for the year of 2005, vs. 1,400 injuries in 2004. PBA’s Safe Summer Celebrations brochure offers fun, fireworks-free
activities and tips on fireworks safety. Call 1-800-331-2020 or visit
http://www.preventblindness.org to obtain a copy.
Superior Comfort in Daily Disposables
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LACREON™ Technology permanently embeds a wetting agent that will not blink away, so patients enjoy exceptional comfort throughout the day. 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST lenses are available in two base curves
(8.5 mm, 9.0 mm) and one diameter (14.2 mm). To learn more, go to
http://ecp.acuvue.com.
Link to
product page: More About 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™
Link to
disclaimer: Important Safety Information
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Global Keratoconus Congress 2008
Contact Lens Spectrum and the LWW Health Care Conference Group will host the second Global Keratoconus Congress (GKC), January 25-27, 2008, at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas, NV. As with the 2007 meeting, the 2008 congress will include information for vision care professionals in all disciplines, with both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. GKC 2008 will also
feature 15 new speakers providing hands-on workshops, strategies for irregular astigmatism and expert insights into fitting after surgery and corneal trauma. More than 500 participants attended the 2007 meeting,
which was accredited for continuing education under COPE, NCLE and JCAHPO and offered 17.5 credit hours. Those interested in attending the 2008 Global Keratoconus Congress can visit
http://www.GKCongress.com for more
information or to register for this unique meeting. Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Heather Seasholtz at 215-643-8073.
Additionally, the Educational Program Committee of the Global
Keratoconus Congress invites the submission of abstracts for the Free Papers and Scientific Posters Competition to be held January 25-27, 2008 in Las Vegas. Papers and Posters related to keratoconus,
corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, gas permeable lens and lens care topics are welcome. Please
visit http://www.GKCongress.com for information.
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Abstract:
Pseudodentritic Keratitis and Meibomitis
Researchers in India recently reported unusual corneal manifestations of pseudodentritic keratitis in cases of coexisting meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). They reviewed five cases
of MGD with associated atypical corneal lesions, extrapolating information on the patients’ ages, symptoms, clinical features, method of diagnosis, treatment and outcome.
They found all five patients were
males between the ages of six and 24. Common symptoms were irritation and watering. MGD was seen in all patients with raised, dendritic, corneal epithelial lesions. Blood tests ruled out tyrsinemia in three patients.
Bandage contact lens therapy achieved resolution of the lesions in all five cases.
The investigators conclude that corneal involvement in the form of pseudodendritic keratitis may be associated with MGD. They
also note that bandage contact lens therapy facilitated prompt resolution, suggesting a mechanical factor, with or without other etiological factors, may at work in producing these innocuous lesions.
Jain V, Sridhar MS, Vaddavalli PK, Sangwan V. Pseudodendritic keratitis associated with meibomitis in young healthy males. Eye. 2007 Jun;21(6):826-8. Epub 2006 Jul 28.
Editor's Commentary:
GP Lenses for Irregular Corneas
Recently, two more GP material manufacturers have received FDA approval for the indication of their materials for the irregular cornea patient. (See the story above and last week's
mention of Paragon Vision Sciences.) Last year Bausch & Lomb/Boston GP lenses obtained the same approval. Although we have been using GP materials for decades for these patients who need GP lenses for their best
visual acuity, prior to these approvals we were doing so as an off label use. This may seem like and unnecessary regulatory burden to some of us, yet it lends a sense of credibility and security to what we do for
these patients. Some believe these are the only patients destined to wear GP lenses in the future. I know there are many regular astigmats and presbyopic GP lens wearers out there who would disagree.
Fitting Tip:
Hold Spectacle Rx
When fitting a patient who has been wearing HEMA lenses with silicone hydrogel lenses, it may be prudent to hold the patient's spectacle prescription until the follow-up exam. I find
that many patients, especially those who have been sleeping in lower-Dk lenses, may have some degree of corneal edema/myopic shift, which may resolve by the next visit. I also schedule these patients for a two-week
follow-up to let the cornea acclimate to the new lenses.
If there is a plus over-refraction at the follow-up visit, you can dispense new trial contact lenses and determine a new refraction for the new spectacle
prescription. This may prevent some over-minusing and remakes.
Susan Kovacich Topp, O.D.,
via e-mail.
Best of the Month
Winners of the Feb., March, April and May tips of the month are Michael Molamphy, O.D. of Stockton, Calif., Christina Haefs, O.D., of Glendale, Wis., Brianne J. McCarthy, N.C.L.E.C., of
Somerville, Mass. and Stephen Byrnes, O.D., of Londonderry, N.H., respectively.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org learn about the reduction in adverse events with silicone hydrogel lenses, review the recent research into silicone
hydrogels (SiH) presented at the American Academy of Optometry relating to tear-film and corneal staining changes, and read the latest case study and poster presentations into the use of silicone hydrogel
lenses.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call
(800) FDA-1088.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free
T-shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters and issue archives. Visit Contact
Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips.
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