CONTACT LENSES TODAY
June 18, 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.
U.S. Supports South African Blindness Program
The U.S. Child Blindness and Eye Health Grants Fund has dispensed a $300,000 grant to the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE)
for a project that will provide vision testing and treatment to children in South Africa. The ICEE says the majority of South African children have limited access to
eyecare services and that only 20% of children who require correction have it. The ICEE will implement several projects as part of the program.
The
National School Eyecare Delivery project will screen and treat all existing students over a two-year period. It will also undertake a Rapid Assessment of Schools for the
Blind in South Africa. A study conducted last November revealed 45% of children in blind programs did not need to be enrolled. Finally, the ICEE will conduct Education
and Advocacy Workshops for O.D.s, Department of Health Project teams and Ministry of Education personnel.
ABB Offers On-Line Ordering
ABB Optical has launched an on-line lens ordering website to extend Internet access beyond the VisionWeb and Eyefinity portals, which are
still available. ABB says by placing all soft lens orders via this site, practitioners can save administrative time. To register, go to www.abboptical.com, click on, “First
time users,” and complete the steps.
ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM help unmask low cylinder astigmats.
Correcting astigmatism used to be a choice between clear, stable vision or long-lasting comfort. For low cylinder astigmatic patients this
meant a spherical or aspheric lens prescription that masked their condition.
Now, you have a chance to unmask these patients. Because of Accelerated Stabilization
Design, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM offers crisp, stable vision regardless of the activity. Because of patented HYDRACLEAR™ Technology the new lens
provides immediate and all-day comfort.
Now, patients might not have to tolerate even a low level of blur that comes with masking their astigmatism.
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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:
Fusarium Keratitis on the Rise
Researchers at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute recently conducted a review to describe the clinical presentation and
course of patients who developed keratitis due to
Fusarium while wearing non-therapeutic soft contact lenses. They conducted a retrospective review of microbiologic records from January 1, 2004 through April 15,
2006 to identify all patients with corneal ulceration and a culture positive for
Fusarium species. The researchers then reviewed the records of 34 patients for clinical characteristics, treatment regimens and microbiologic
features.
Antibacterials were the most commonly administered antimicrobial medications prior to
Fusarium diagnosis in 31 of 34 patients. Investigators found no predilection to any one brand of contact lens or solution. Microbiologic corneal cultures
identified
Fusarium oxysporum in 20 cases, Fusarium solani in three cases, Fusarium that was no further identifiable in ten cases and no growth in one case.
They also found patients who had a delayed treatment onset also had a tendency to require prolonged treatment to achieve resolution.
Researchers
involved in this study conclude that the microbial spectrum of contact lens-related keratitis may be evolving with higher participation of
Fusarium species compared with prior reports. They note that Fusarium was previously an unusual organism in the etiology of infectious keratitis in
non-therapeutic soft contact lens wear.
Alfonso EC, Cantu-Dibildox J, Munir WM, et al. Insurgence of Fusarium Keratitis Associated With Contact Lens Wear. Arch
Ophthalmol. 2006 Jun 12;[Epub ahead of print].
Editor's Commentary:
Loved Ones Lost
I am a very fortunate person to have known Mel Sanford of Conforma Contacts and Charles Pat Creighton of Alden Optical Laboratories Inc., both
of whom passed away recently. I learned so much from them. I worked with Mel at Dow Corning in the early 1980s. I have never met a more honorable, objective, caring,
can-do "lab guy." This field feels his loss. I sure do.
Pat Creighton was a giant in my mind. In his lifetime, he had an optometry practice, developed
a soft contact lens and got FDA-approval, authored
Creighton's (sag depth) Tables and maintained a successful manufacturing lab. These amazing leaders left their respective companies to their family members to run.
I know you know others who have accomplished similar achievements. I just need to acknowledge how people like Mel and Charles Patrick helped our field and our patients. We
wish all the best to their loved ones.
Fitting Tip:
Piggybacking Lenses May Alleviate Binding
In regards to last week’s editor’s commentary (see
CLToday, June 11th), I suggest piggybacking the GP lens over a silicone hydrogel soft lens. This will prevent corneal trauma and probably eliminate the binding
issues. I'd also investigate the possibility that the patient has dry eye issues, particularly later in the day. Punctal occlusion may also be helpful to alleviate this
symptom.
Burt W. Dubow, O.D.,
St. Cloud, Minn.
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 http://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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as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free golf shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name,
degree or title and city/state/country.
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archives. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips.
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