June 24, 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.

Johnson & Johnson's The Vision Care Institute (TVCI) opened its first satellite center at Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) this month. TVCI is partnering with optometry schools and colleges in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to extend its professional-level training opportunities for optometry students with distance learning and live programming at on-campus satellite centers. A second satellite will open later this month at the New England College of Optometry with additional centers to be built at other schools over time.
    "Educational programming at the satellite centers will include distance learning programs for first- through fourth-year optometry students, using video conferencing technologies from the Jacksonville headquarters," says Richard Clomplus, O.D., F.A.A.O., Director of TVCI. "We believe that bringing this technology on to the campus will assist not only in the training of students and alumni, but also will increase our capability to communicate to our colleagues and students throughout the world," adds Thomas Lewis, O.D., Ph.D., president of PCO.

---

CooperVision Brings Biofinity to U.S., Expands Toric Offerings
CooperVision's Biofinity silicone hydrogel contact lenses are now available for daily-wear and monthly-replacement in the U.S. The lens features the company's patented Aquaform technology, which it says established hydrogen bonds with water molecules to create a naturally hydrophilic contact lens that retains water. Biofinity is manufactured from comfilcon A with a 48% water content and 160 Dk/t. It's available in sphere powers from -0.25D to -6.00D in a base curve of 8.6 and diameter of 14mm.
    CooperVision plans to introduce a two-week silicone hydrogel spherical lens in 2008, followed by a silicone hydrogel toric later in the year. The company will also continue to pursue FDA approval for Biofinity as an extended-wear lens with approval expected in the second half of 2008.
    In additional news, the company has also extended the parameters of its Proclear Multifocal Toric contact lenses, which are now available in a sphere power range from 20.00D to -20.00D (0.50D steps after +/-6.50D), cylinder powers from -0.75D to -5.75D in 0.50D steps, axis in 5¢ª steps and add powers of 1.00D to 4.00D in 0.50D steps. The lenses also feature two base curves of 8.4- and 8.8mm.

---

Art Optical to Offer Custom Soft CLs
Art Optical Contact Lens has entered a large-scale transatlantic partnership agreement with the UltraVision CLPL Group, which grants the company license to UltraVision's advanced, lathe-cut soft contact lens technology. UltraVision received the Queen's Award for Enterprise – Innovation for the patented contact lens designs that Art Optical has agreed to license and manufacture in the U.S.

---

Menicon Appoints VP of R&D
Menicon Co. has appointed Steve Newman to the position of Vice President of R&D effective June 15. His duties will include all areas of R&D with particular focus on application of the recently acquired innovative flat-pack technology. Mr. Newman has 30 years of experience in the contact lens industry and holds numerous patents including toric and aspheric contact lens designs. He served as Chief Technology Officer of Clear Lab prior to joining Menicon.

---

Increased Comfort Delivers Lasting Patient Satisfaction Nothing drives referrals like satisfied patients. And nothing satisfies patients like the comfort and minimal corneal staining that can be provided by ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus. In a recent clinical study, new wearers exhibited no significant difference in corneal staining and reported no significant difference in overall comfort between ACUVUE® OASYS™ and no lens. And in an in-market trial, 89% of patients fit with ACUVUE® OASYS™ would recommend their doctors based on their experience. How will you satisfy your patients and build your practice with ACUVUE® OASYS™?
More About ACUVUE® OASYS®
Important Safety Information
 --ADVERTISING

---

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 , 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.
--ADVERTISING

---

NEI Study: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Protect Against Retinopathy
A study appearing in the July 2007 issue of Nature Medicine found that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids protect against the development and progression of retinopathy. The study was a collaborative effort by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Brigham Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Goteborg in Sweden, the National Eye Institute and National Institute (NEI) on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    The researchers studied the effects of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid on the loss of blood vessels, re-growth of healthy vessels and the growth of destructive abnormal vessels in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Investigators found that increasing omega-3 fatty acids and decreasing omega-6 fatty acids in the diet reduced the area of vessel loss that ultimately causes the growth of abnormal vessels and blindness. Omega-6 fatty acids contributed to the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina.
    They also found that mice with higher amounts of omega-3 had nearly a 50% decrease in retinopathy. They further studied mice fed a diet modeled after the traditional Japanese diet (more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids) and those fed a diet modeled after a traditional Western diet (lower amounts of omega-3).

---

Othera Reaches Target Enrollment for Clinical Trial for AMD Drug
Othera Pharmaceuticals has reached its target of 10 patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA) for an open label clinical study of it OT-551 topical eye drop for the treatment of dry and wet AMD and cataracts. Patients with GA have an advanced form of dry AMD in both eyes. The NEI-sponsored study is being conducted at the NIH Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

---

New O.D. Introduces Podcast Feature
The June 19 edition of the New O.D. e-newsletter included the premier of a new feature, a companion podcast. The e-newsletter, like the New O.D. print counterpart published by and mailed with Optometric Management, is designed for the student and recent graduate of optometry school and focused on the challenges of starting a career in optometry.
    In each issue of the New O.D. e-newsletter, editor Kelly Kerksick, O.D., offers valuable insights and practice strategies for new O.D.s based on her experience establishing and managing her own private practice after graduating from optometry school in 2002. With the addition of the podcast, subscribers can hear exclusive, topical content not available in the e-newsletter or publication. The podcasts will include commentary from Dr. Kerksick and featured guests. To sign-up for the e-newsletter and podcast — available as a download for your iPod, MP3 player or computer — go to http://www.optometric.com/newod.aspx.

---

UAB O.D.s to Discuss Glaucoma and Sleep Apnea at World Congress
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry have found the risk of being diagnosed with glaucoma is 75% greater among those who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. They reviewed more than 70,000 records at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (BVAMC) over a three-year period. "The working hypothesis is that during these ¡¦ apneic periods, there is a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, which may lead to damage evidenced by glaucoma," says Leo Semes, O.D., associate professor of optometry and one of the investigators on the study. The findings of the study will be presented during the Association of International Glaucoma Societies (AIGS) World Congress in Singapore from July 18 to 21.

---

Abstract: Prevalence of Adenoviral Conjunctivitis
Researchers at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia recently conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis. They analyzed data from 50 consecutive patients who presented to the ER with a clinical diagnosis of infectious conjunctivitis between July and October, 2003. They used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate all cases and determined prevalence based on lab findings.
    Of the 50 consecutive patients with acute infectious conjunctivitis, 31 were PCR positive for adenovirus. Investigators say PCR found the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis was 62% of all patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of infectious conjunctivitis from July to October, 2003.
Sambursky RP, Fram N, Cohen EJ. The prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis at the Wills Eye Hospital Emergency Room. Optometry. 2007 May;78(5):236-9.

---

Editor's Commentary: Daily Disposables Vs. Lens Care Solutions
An article this past week speculated on the increased use of daily disposable contact lenses with a resultant decrease in use of reusable lenses along with the associated lens care products. Some speculate daily disposable use will increase in the U.S. It would take quite a change to mirror usage such the nearly 33% to 50% of new and refit soft lens patients in some areas of Europe and in Japan. And over the past few weeks since the news about Acanthamoeba infections, I haven't heard of any drastic reductions in interest in contact lens wear. I think most patients will ask their eye care practitioner about reusable contact lens safety and use the safe products on the market, hopefully with increased diligence. The 36 million U.S. contact lens wearers will go on wearing contact lenses with perhaps a mild increase in daily disposables. Nevertheless, as I've often said, in the U.S., there is probably an underutilization of daily disposables. And there is still a lot of room to build the whole contact lens field with all types of lens modalities.

---

Fitting Tip: Compliance Aid
LensAlert was introduced at the Contact Lens Society of America in Phoenix. The specially designed case features a timer that wearers can set to their recommended replacement schedule. LensAlert then counts down the days. When the display flashes with a zero, wearers have reached the end of their wear schedule and should replace their contact lenses and case. *Visit http://www.lensalert.com.
John O'Hara
President, LensAlert