CONTACT LENSES TODAY

June 19, 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.

News from BCLA 2005
More than 800 delegates attended the British Contact Lens Association’s 29th Clinical Conference and Exhibition in Brighton, England. Dr. James Wolffson was appointed President. Other highlights of the program included symposia on contact lens and anterior eye complications, ortho-K, myopia and practice management, as well as a round table discussion on new contact lens materials. The BCLA also announced the launch of a new Fellowship program, similar to that of the American Academy of Optometry.
Blindness Prevention Initiative
 Optometry Giving Sight will launch an international fundraising initiative to support the prevention of blindness due to refractive error and helping those with permanent low vision in the U.S. and Canada. Today, 37 million people worldwide are blind and 124 million suffer from low vision. Details will be available at booth #615 at the American Optometric Association Congress, June 23-25, 2005.
Con-Cise Partners with Investment Firm
Con-Cise Contact Lens Co., owner of Primary Eye Care Network and Westlens, has entered into a partnership with Riordan, Lewis and Haden (RLH), a leading quality investment firm in Los Angles, Calif. All of the companies have been merged under Con-Cise, LLC. RLH will investigate possible avenues of growth for the company.
ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM -- Built for Speed, Designed for Vision & Comfort
The new Accelerated Stabilization Design of ACUVUE ADVANCE Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM makes the fitting process for astigmatic patients easier by reducing chair time. Because ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM was designed specifically to use the eyelid to stabilize the lens, doctors can go from zero to fitting in 60 seconds. Once the lens is in place, every blink is a smooth interaction with the lens that maintains continuous stability throughout the day. This enhanced stabilization is the key to crisp, stable vision throughout daily activities.
ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM also features HYDRACLEAR, which allows for a moist, smooth, and soft fitting silicone hydrogel lens that feels good all day long. http://www.ecp.acuvue.com
--ADVERTISING
CLES 2006 Sets Goal
The Education task Force of the Contact Lens and Eye care Symposium (CLES) says it’s goal for the 2006 meeting is to provide participants with the best possible continuing education presented by internationally known experts in their fields. A newly created Contact Lens Practice Business Forum will provide participants with practical ideas for increasing the growth of their contact lens practice. Other workshops featured include Managing the Myopic Epidemic, Technology and Contact Lenses and Contact Lenses and Dry Eyes: Pharmaceuticals and Complications.
Paragon HDS 100 in Large Diameters
Paragon Vision Sciences' Paragon HDS 100 is now available in large diameter designs. The lens comes in clear, crystal blue and non-UV options and is cleared for up to seven days of continuous wear by the FDA.
CDC Recognizes Age-Related Eye Disease as Threat
The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) online journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, recently published an article entitled "Age-Related Eye Diseases: An Emerging Challenge for Public Health Professionals." The article is the result of Prevent Blindness America's CDC initiative with the Chronic Disease Directors. Read the article at http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jul/04_0121.htm
Abstract: Tap water and Acanthamoeba in CLs
Researchers in Korea investigated the presence of free-living amoeba (FLA), including Acanthamoeba, in domestic tap water and contact lens storage cases. FLA contamination was found in 97 (47%) of 207 samples, and Acanthamoeba was discovered in 16 (8%). Results indicate water storage tanks promote FLA colonization in domestic tap water. This increases the risk of Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases as well the risk for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Jeong HJ, Yu HS. The role of domestic tap water in Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases in Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2005 Jun;43(2):47-50.
Editor's Commentary: Swimming with Contact Lenses
I had an interesting conversation with a highly experienced optometrist a few weeks ago. We agreed, we warn patients swimming with contact lenses on is more dangerous than swimming and not wearing contact lenses. You certainly should not nap or sleep overnight with lenses on that you have worn while swimming. Yet, we agreed, we both swim with our contact lenses on, as well as during other sports. But I always have a case and solution handy to take them out if I am going to nap on the beach. After swimming, I always clean and disinfect them before the next use (with the exception of daily disposables). Don’t let your extended wear/continuous wear patients think it’s safe to swim with their contact lenses on unless they are removed after swimming and before sleep, and either replaced or cleaned and disinfected.
 Fitting Tip: Preventing Ocular Problems
As I perused the July issue of Prevention, I saw two worthwhile stories of interest to eye care professionals. The article, “We Test It: Sport Sunglasses,” lists several nonprescription sunwear options for very active sports enthusiasts, including the availability of polarization. The article also points out that teal-colored lenses make a yellow tennis ball stand out from the background. The article, “14 Time-Savers to Nix,” notes the availability of silicone hydrogel lenses and discourages contact lens wearers from sleeping in lenses, especially if they are tired and want to skip steps to get to bed sooner. I was pleased to see this information in a lay magazine. Prevention is on the web at http://www.prevention.com
-Cynthia H. Green, O.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry, The Ohio State University Optometry Services
Are You Going to the Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS)?
(July 28 to 31, 2005 in Chicago, Ill. -- for the first time in the U.S.A.)
Get the tools to implement orthokeratology in your practice. For more information, go to http://www.gos2005.com
-ADVERTISING

 
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, review the difference between oxygen permeability, oxygen transmissibility and oxygen flux; read about the 1990 inter-laboratory investigation that sparked the standardization of Dk/t measurement techniques; and read about the performance of silicone hydrogel bandage lenses.
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.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected 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.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.
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