Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., has named Dave Brown, President, Vistakon Americas. In his new role, Mr. Brown will be responsible for the Vistakon U.S. and Canadian businesses.
     In 2006, Mr. Brown joined Johnson & Johnson Vision Care as Vice President, World Wide Vision Care Franchise. During his tenure, he led the franchise's efforts to bring to market innovative products including Acuvue Oasys Brand Contact Lenses for Presbyopia and Acuvue Oasys Brand Contact Lenses for Astigmatism.
     Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., Mr. Brown served in a number of positions throughout several Johnson & Johnson companies, beginning with the position of Associate Product Director, McNeil Consumer Products Company, division of McNeil-PPC, Inc., in 1990. In 1998, he joined Independence Technology, L.L.C. as Vice President, Sales & Marketing. In 2003, Mr. Brown left to become General Manager, OrthoNeutrogena, division of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.
     "Dave's breadth of marketing and general management experiences across multi-sectors and multiple businesses, combined with his knowledge of the vision care business, uniquely qualifies him to lead the Americas region through its next chapter of growth and innovation," said Michael Sneed, Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

CooperVision has expanded the parameters of its Biofinity Toric contact lenses to include plus powers, high minus powers, and a -2.25 cylinder. Biofinity Toric is now available in sphere powers of +6.00D to -8.00D; cylinders of -0.75D, -1.25D, -1.75D, and -2.25D; and axis around the clock. This expansion gives Biofinity Toric one of the most complete parameter offerings of any silicone hydrogel toric lens available today, according to the company.
      "We're pleased to make these additional parameters available so soon after our initial launch," said Doug Brayer, Marketing Manager, CooperVision. "It's part of CooperVision's commitment to providing a complete range of toric parameters that allow practitioners to fit a broader range of their astigmatic patients."
     Manufactured from comfilcon A material, the water content of Biofinity Toric monthly replacement lenses is 48 percent, Dk is 128, and Dk/t is 116. The lens features a base curve of 8.7mm, a diameter of 14.5mm, and axis of 10 degrees to 180 degrees in 10-degree steps. In addition, CooperVision plans to further expand sphere powers from +8.00D to -10.00D late this summer.
     For more information, visit http://www.coopervision.com.

The Foundation for Contact Lens and Cornea Research Education, Inc, announced the launch of its new website: www.ContactLensResearch.com. 
     According to Foundation Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Art Epstein, the idea evolved as an answer to concerns expressed by many clinicians. "The best clinicians have always understood that clinical practice rests upon a strong foundation of scientific research. Evidence-based medicine is a perfect example of putting that into practice. The dilemma faced by today's busy clinician is a lack of time to sort through the growing number of publications."
     "ContactLensResearch.com brings the latest research to the eye care professional's desktop in HD video and with commentary and insight straight from the researchers themselves," continued Dr. Epstein. "This month we focus on the work of world-class scientists including Fiona Stapleton, Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, Lyndon Jones and Suzanne Fleiszig. We are committed to insuring that ContactLensResearch.com will become the primary source for access to the latest research in contact lenses and lens care. New content from top researchers will be added each month. It's really exciting."
     Drs. Ken Lebow, Christine Sindt and Bill Townsend serve as associate editors for ContactLensResearch.com. In addition to the ongoing video journal, other resources and links provide an online gateway to current contact lens and related research.  
     The Foundation for Contact Lens and Cornea Research Education, Inc. is a non-for-profit corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its educational mission is to improve patient care by bringing the latest contact lens and contact lens care research and science to eye care professionals worldwide. Initial support for the foundation was provided through an unrestricted educational grant from Alcon Laboratories, Ft. Worth, Texas. Additional sources of support are currently being explored. 

Your practice thrives when your patients are healthy and happy-and ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus can help you fulfill this goal, by providing exceptional comfort, vision, and health. It's a fact: more than 9 out of 10 patients stay in ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand.¹ So when you fit your patients with ACUVUE® OASYS™, you're laying a solid foundation of patient commitment and satisfaction leading to practice growth.

1. Data on file. Johnson & Johnson, 2008.
ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting jnjvisioncare.com.
     HYDRACLEAR® Plus is our brand name for the next generation of our proprietary technology that allows us to use a higher volume of a moisture rich wetting agent in a state of the art formulation. This creates a more wettable, ultra smooth contact lens, especially for challenging environments that make eyes feel dry.
     ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® OASYS™, HYDRACLEAR®, and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2009.

--ADVERTISING

Lens Den now has a storage system for spherical trial lenses. Lens Den creates storage systems for trial contact lenses which save space while creating a uniform, professional appearance, according to the company. The company states that bin storage is efficient because lenses do not have to be removed from boxes and individual boxes do not have to be opened to assess inventory.
     Lens Den also offers more compact storage systems for Ciba and Acuvue toric lenses. For additional information, visit www.thelensden.com.

The Contact Lens Spectrum calendar, which mailed with the November 2008 issue, highlights an interesting and challenging contact lens case each month. The July case report, Toy Gun Injury Not Child's Play, follows the case of a patient with a corneal abrasion from a toy gun projectile. To view the details of the case, visit www.clspectrum.com/photocalendar.asp?month=July.
     Visit the Contact Lens Spectrum case report page after the first of every month to review details and images from the latest case study. You can also view case studies from previous months in the archive at the bottom of the page.
--ADVERTISING

Alcon, Inc. and its partner, NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Alcon has begun treating patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial of NovaBay's patented lead Aganocide compound, NVC-422, for viral conjunctivitis. NovaBay has a licensing and research collaboration agreement with Alcon for use of its Aganocide compounds in the eye, ear and sinus, and in contact lens solutions.
     Developed by NovaBay to mimic the body's defense against infection, Aganocides are proprietary synthetic analogs of the same molecules used by white blood cells to destroy harmful microbes in the body, such as viruses and bacteria.  Because of their natural mechanism of action, NovaBay believes that Aganocide compounds have a low potential for generating microbial resistance, offering a potential solution to the problem of rising resistance of microbes to traditional antibiotics.
     The Phase 2 viral conjunctivitis study follows a recently completed Phase 1 trial in which safety and tolerability were successfully demonstrated in 120 healthy volunteers with no reported serious adverse events. The study calls for enrolling approximately 250 patients at more than 30 medical centers, mostly in the United States.

The Educational Program Committee of the Global Specialty Lens Symposium invites the submission of abstracts for the Free Paper Section to be held January 28-31, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Papers related to presbyopia, keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, myopia control, ortho-k and lens care topics are welcome.
     Those interested in submitting free papers or posters to the Global Specialty Lens Symposium can visit www.GSLSymposium.com for more information. Web submissions only. Deadline for submissions is Monday, August 31, 2009.
--ADVERTISING

Optometry Giving Sight announced that it has named Glenn Ellisor, OD, and Stephen Schock, OD, FAAO, to its USA National Committee. Optometry Giving Sight was established in 2003 to address the needs of the 670 million men, women and children around the world who are blind or vision impaired simply because they don't have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
     Dr. Ellisor is the founder of Vision Source and has served as its President and Chairman of the Board since its inception in 1991. He also continues to practice in Kingwood, Texas. Dr. Ellisor graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1982 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Business and graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1984.
     Dr. Schock is a 1970 graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He has worked in International Professional Services with Bausch & Lomb, National Professional Services for CIBA Vision, and was Vice President of Technical Affairs (R&D) for International Hydron. He was co-founder of Eye Med Vision Care in Atlanta and is currently President of Schock Eye Group, a vision care consulting firm.
     For more information on Optometry Giving Sight, visit www.givingsight.org.

Researchers wanted to evaluate the effect of a large-diameter (16-20 mm) hydrogel contact lens (CL) or an injection of Botulinum Toxin A to the Riolan muscle for the treatment of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK).
     Eight eyes from 8 patients were fitted with a large-diameter CL for 7 days. The clinical improvement and changes of fluorescein and rose bengal staining were examined on the day of diagnosis and 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after the CL was fitted. Three eyes showing symptoms of recurrence of SLK within 1 month after removal of the CL and 2 eyes with complications related to CL were treated with an injection of Botulinum Toxin A to the pretarsal orbicularis muscle, Riolan. The changes of symptoms and vital stains were also evaluated on day 7 and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the injection.
     The mean age was 48 +/- 13.5 years, and the group consisted of 6 females and 2 males. Dry eye syndrome and horizontal conjunctival corrugation were found in all 8 patients, superior conjunctivochalasis in 5 patients, and floppy eyelid syndrome in 2 patients. Complete resolution after more than 1 month with CL only was seen in 3 eyes (37.5%). Clinical symptoms improved in 4.62 days and vital staining in 10.75 days after fitting of the CL. Superficial punctuate keratopathy related to CL occurred in 3 eyes (37.5%). Five eyes (62.5%) that were treated with botulinum showed distinct improvement within 7 days after the injection, and the effect was maintained for 2-7 months.
     The authors concluded that the fitting of a large-diameter CL can be considered for the treatment of acute severe symptoms of SLK for a short time. An injection of Botulinum toxin to the Riolan muscle can effectively and rapidly resolve the symptoms associated with SLK, and its effect of maintenance was a mean of 4 months.
Kim JC, Chun YS. Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis with a Large-Diameter Contact Lens and Botulinum Toxin A. Cornea 2009.  

Each year, our editorial team for Contact Lens Spectrum undergoes editorial planning for content for the forthcoming year. Indeed, it is again that time of year for us and I'd like to get your input and feedback in that regard. Are we generally covering the right topics? Do we cover any one topic too much or too little? I'd very much appreciate hearing your thoughts. Please continue to send your thoughts, feedback and tips to tips@CLtoday.com.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO 

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: worldwide trends in silicone hydrogel lens wear, fitting silicone hydrogels for a patient with high myopia and reduced vision secondary to posterior staphyloma, evaluating the performance of an "upgrade" silicone hydrogel lens, and part one of out AAO 2008 synopsis.