CONTACT LENSES TODAY

June 22, 2003

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches 9,314 readers in 74 countries.

RGPLI News Goes Electronic
In an effort to improve circulation and reduce postal costs, the Rigid Gas Permeable Lens Institute (RGPLI) is converting its quarterly newsletter, RGPLI News, into an electronic format. To sign up for the e-mail newsletter (which begins next issue) visit http://www.rgpli.org.

Con-Cise Hires CRT Specialist
Con-Cise Contact Lens Co. recently announced the addition of a full-time Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) clinical specialist, F. Keith Leach, II, FCLSA, NCLC-AC. As Director of Clinical Development, Mr. Leach will help customers get started with CRT.

CV ENCORE TORIC: So Much More Than Just "Location, Location, Location." -- It's patient preference, parameter range and in-stock product availability. Recent studies show that 95% of patients prefer CV Encore Toric to the leading disposable toric. And with the addition of a -2.25D cylinder power and sphere powers from +6.00 to -8.00D, you can now fit more of your patients with the most advanced disposable toric. Plus, you'll appreciate more than 99% in-stock product availability. For more information on this outstanding toric lens, contact CooperVision at (800) 341-2020 or visit the Web site at http://www.coopervision.com.
--ADVERTISING

Abstract: Examining Drug-Lens Interactions
Researchers sought to understand the interaction of silicone-based hydrogel contact lenses with ocular pharmaceutical agents. Using a spectrophotometric evaluation of ciprofloxacin concentration in saline solution, the researchers examined the in-vitro uptake and release of the drug from silicone-based hydrogel and from conventional pHEMA-based hydrogel contact lenses. The hydrogel contact lenses tested showed similar drug uptake but different levels of drug release (the silicone-based hydrogels released a lower amount of drug than the conventional, pHEMA-based lenses). The researchers concluded that the differences in ciprofloxacin uptake and release between silicone-based hydrogel and conventional pHEMA-based hydrogel lens materials may not be clinically signficant because the amount of drug released from all lenses would be above the MIC(90) of ciprofloxacin for common ocular pathogens. Their results indicate that material properties have a signficant impact on drug-lens interactions.

Karlgard, CC; Jones, LW; Moresoli, C. Ciprofloxacin Interaction with Silicon-Based and Conventional Hydrogel Contact Lenses. Eye Contact Lens 2003 Apr;29(2):83-9.

Editor's Commentary: Some Argue That CLs Do Protect
We received two good stories in response to last week's comments on eye safety and contact lenses:

When I was stationed in New Orleans, I had a GP lens patient who was walking behind the crowd at a Mardi Gras parade when he got hit in the eye with some 'throw beads,' which were thrown to the crowd from a passing float. The beads must have struck the patient squarely in the eye because it split her contact lens into two pieces but left her cornea intact. She said she had a little discomfort in removing the two contact lens pieces, but was otherwise unhurt. I saw her a day or two afterward and, of course, there was no abrasion or anything to see at that point. I think her cornea was much better off with the contact lens covering it that it would have been on its own.
--CDR John M. Laurent, OD, PhD
Research Director
Navy Refractive Surgery Center
Naval Medical Center, San Diego

I saw a patient this past week who was hit on his open eye by falling debris while he was repairing drywall. The blow caused an external skin abrasion and contusion. The soft lens was torn at impact while on the eye, but the patient was able to remove the lens in at least two pieces. He suffered only a minor subconjunctival hemorrhage.
--Christopher R. Howard, OD
Florida

These are both typical contact lens protection stories.

Fitting Tip: Just Let It Be
In response to the fitting tip, 'Lend Your Astigmats a Fingertip,' from the June 1 issue of CLToday, I can't say I'm very impressed with the idea of rotating the lens into the correct position to help it settle more quickly. Of course it will allow the lens to settle more quickly, but surely we want to see the lens as it will position itself in every day use. Will you be there to rotate it for your patient every morning before he jumps into his car for the drive to work?
--Graeme Stevenson, FBDA, CL, Glasgow, Scotland

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.

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