Each July, we dedicate the entire issue of Contact Lens Spectrum to dry eye. This year, we've updated our market research and annual report to reflect trends in the field of both dry eye and contact lens dry eye, both of which continue to remain major challenges for both patents and practitioners. There are also key feature articles that cover other factors in contact lenses and dry eye, so be on the look out for this great issue.

At the American Optometric Association (AOA) annual conference, Bausch + Lomb announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued clearance of Biotrue ONEday, a premium daily disposable contact lens. Biotrue ONEday is made from HyperGel, a next generation of daily disposable material that, according to the company, has the best features of conventional hydrogels and silicone hydrogels. The lens offers high water content and delivers more oxygen than a traditional hydrogel, all without the need for silicone, while maintaining the comfort of conventional hydrogels. Biotrue ONEday contact lenses' bio-inspired material helps them retain moisture and optical shape even after hours of wear.

Biotrue ONEday was created by the eye health scientists at B+L to be the first daily disposable lens with three bio-inspired features. The bio-inspired lenses contain 78 percent water, the same water content as the cornea, and deliver the oxygen level needed by the open eye to maintain healthy, white eyes. The outer surface of the lens is designed to mimic the lipid layer of tear film to prevent dehydration. Per information provided by B+L, Biotrue ONEday lenses provide the maximum amount of moisture of any daily disposable lens on the market today, even after 16 hours of wear.

Biotrue ONEday lenses were introduced in May in Italy and will be introduced in the U.K. and Nordics later in the year. More information on the rollout in the U.S. will be available soon.

Alden Optical, Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement to license NovaKone to David Thomas Contact Lenses, a group subsidiary of Menicon Holdings BV, based in the U.K.

David Thomas Contact Lenses plans to launch NovaKone in the regions they serve, including the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, by September, 2012.

Since 1998 The National Optometry Hall of Fame has recognized and honored those optometrists who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the optometric profession. Originally created by the Ohio Optometric Association, the NOHF is currently administered by Optometry Cares — the AOA Foundation.

The selection process is determined by a committee made up of representatives from the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and the National Optometric Association.

This year's inductees, honored at a ceremony at Optometry's Meeting in Chicago, were: Kevin L. Alexander, OD, PhD; James A. Boucher, OD, MS; William E. Cochran, OD, DOS; Frank Fontana, OD and Thomas L. Lewis, OD, PhD.

Menicon Co., Ltd. announced new joint managing directors for two of its European subsidiaries, David Thomas Contact Lenses Ltd. (DTCL) in the United Kingdom and NKL Contactlenzen (NKL) in the Netherlands.

The new joint managing directors of DTCL are former Sales Director, Graham Avery, and former Production Director, Kevin Mitchell. They have replaced former Director, William Thomas, son of founder David Thomas. DTCL is a prescription lens specialist providing custom rigid gas-permeable lenses, including the Rose K brand for the treatment of keratoconus and irregular cornea. It also distributes Menicon-branded lenses and lens care products in the U.K. and Ireland.

The new joint managing directors of NKL are former Sales and Marketing Manager, Peter Nijhuis, and former Head of Research and Development, Bart van der Linden. They have replaced Henk van Bruggen, the former Director. NKL makes Easyfit lens-fitting software for topographers and the Menicon Z Night orthokeratology lens. It also distributes Menicon-branded products, primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium.

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CARE SOLUTION CORNER
Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO

Contact Lens Solutions and Travel

The summer vacation season is in full swing, and with that comes travel. Now is a good time to revisit the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) carry-on policy, particularly since the regulations have changed slightly since their inception.

The "3-1-1 for Carry-Ons" policy specifies that liquids, gels, and aerosols are permitted in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or smaller containers and need to be placed in a one-quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag. Each traveler is limited to 1 such bag. (Containers containing a volume greater than 3.4 ounces are, however, allowed in checked baggage.)

The TSA website goes on to say, "You may bring all prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes. You are not limited in the amount or volume of these items you may bring in your carry-on baggage. BUT if the medically necessary items exceed 3.4 ounces or are not contained in a one-quart, zip-top plastic bag, you MUST declare to one of our Security Officers at the checkpoint for further inspection." The TSA does consider contact lens solutions part of this over-the-counter medication group.

Happy travels!

http://www.tsa.gov/311/
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

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Hydration and Dry Eye: Part 2

I just finished a run outside (I'm training for my very first 5k!) and naturally afterwards I want to reach for water first, but what about an alcoholic beverage later? Now I've already written about water intake but what about the impact of the alcohol on my eyes? The systemic effects of alcohol are well established, yet the impact of alcohol consumption on dry eye status has only recently been documented.

A 2011 study out of Korea aimed to explore this issue.¹ Twenty healthy male volunteers between 20-25 with no history of dry eye, liver disease, or ophthalmic surgery were recruited. Two groups were created: an alcohol group and a control group. The alcohol group consumed 0.75g/kg of ethanol between 8-10pm. The tear film was evaluated in all groups at 6pm (pre-drinking), at midnight, at 6am and 8am. Tear osmolarity, ethanol concentration in tears and serum, the Schirmer test, TBUT, corneal staining, and corneal sensitivity were all measured. Overall, the ethanol group showed trace ethanol in tears at midnight, and showed increased tear osmolarity, higher fluorescein staining, and shorter TBUT the next morning. Aqueous production was the same between groups. This study highlights the fact that alcohol consumption does affect the ocular surface and could exacerbate signs and symptoms in someone with ocular surface disease.

So just as we discussed in my article on hydration and caffeine, it's important to get folks to drink water (occasionally along with their cocktail). While it is unknown whether alcohol consumption can have a long term effect on dry eye status, it is accepted as a risk factor for dry eye.² Thus, if your patients report frequent alchohol use, even if the volume is low (e.g. a drink a day or less) and he/she reports dryness symptoms, a discussion is warranted.

1. Kim JH, et al. Oral Alcohol Administration Disturbs Tear Film and Ocular Surface. Ophthalmology. 119(5): 965 -971, 2011.
2. McMonnies C, Ho A. Patient history in screening for dry eye conditions. J Am Optom Assoc. 1987;58(4): 296- 301.

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These researchers objective was to assess the use of multipurpose lens care products via an online survey conducted among soft contact lens (SCL) wearers in Japan.

The subjects were 1000 men and women aged 15-44 years who reported that they cleaned their SCL by using multipurpose solution at least twice a week. Via the internet, they were asked questions about SCL care, the use of a rubbing step when cleaning SCL, cleaning and replacing lens cases, and recommended SCL care methods.

Of the 1000 SCL wearers enrolled, 94.3% performed lens care every day lenses were worn, 64.2% reported rubbing the lenses every time, 57.9% rubbed the lenses for at least 10 seconds per side, and 64.7% reported they rubbed the lenses on both sides. Further, 61.2% reported that they had been given an explanation of SCL cleaning at an eye clinic or contact lens store. Only 49.8% of subjects reported that they cleaned the lens case every time and 61.7% replaced the case within 3 months. Only 19.5% had been given an explanation about lens case care. Half of the subjects reported they had been given no recommendation to use specific SCL care products or could not remember whether or not they had. The most common reason for the recommendation was good compatibility with their type of lens.

The researchers concluded that more education is needed in Japan regarding methods of SCL care to ensure correct lens cleaning with inclusion of a rubbing step, as well as sufficient cleaning and replacement of the lens case. Of particular interest is the finding that many subjects were not given an explanation about proper SCL care and lens case cleaning and replacement at the time of lens purchase or prescription.

Toshida H, Kadota Y, Suto C, Ohta T, Murakami A. Multipurpose soft contact lens care in Japan. Clin Ophthalmo. 2012;6:139-44.

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