Earlier this year, we named the Contact Lens Event of 2014 as the “cosmetic” and beauty enhancing event of last year (http://www.clspectrum.com/articleviewer.aspx?articleID=112120). This was true given the various new technologies coming to market and potential for these technologies to change what has been a relatively stagnant contact lens category. Midway through 2015, we would like to get your comments and feedback on this category of the market. Please let us know if you are using these new technologies and how they are impacting your contact lens practice. Write to us at cltoday@pentavisionmedia.com.

CooperVision, Inc. announced the introduction of MyDay silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses to the United States market. CooperVision first introduced MyDay lenses in Europe in June 2013, then rolled out distribution to Australia and New Zealand in early 2014.

MyDay daily disposable lenses are made with Smart Silicone chemistry. According to the company, Smart Silicone optimizes oxygen permeability in a lens that is just 4.4% silicon – the lowest percentage of silicon found in a silicone hydrogel, daily disposable lens. By using less silicon, Smart Silicone leaves more room in the lens for built-in channels of comfort-enhancing moisture. It also enables a modulus of only 0.4 MPa, to make MyDay the softest silicone hydrogel daily disposable available.

With a smooth lens surface and rounded edge, MyDay daily disposable lenses incorporate an advanced lens design to provide a more natural feeling as the eyelid glides over the lens. The company reports that testing shows that MyDay lenses not only have immediate comfort at insertion, but they have excellent comfort over the course of the day. The lens’ built-in UV protection filters 85% of UVA and 96% of UVB rays.

MyDay daily disposable lenses feature sphere powers from +6.00D to -10.00D (0.50 steps after +5.00D and -6.00D); a base curve of 8.4mm; a diameter of 14.2mm; a Dk/t of 100 (@ -3.00D); and a modulus of 0.4 MPa.

CooperVision has begun limited distribution of MyDay fit sets and lenses in the U.S., and expects to begin shipping nationwide by early fall 2015. MyDay lenses are available in 90-pack cartons.

Allergan and Oculeve, a development-stage medical device company focused on developing novel treatments for dry eye disease, announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Allergan will acquire Oculeve in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan will acquire Oculeve for a $125 million upfront payment and commercialization milestone payments related to Oculeve's lead development program OD-01. The agreement also includes the acquisition of an additional earlier-stage dry eye device development program.

The acquisition of Oculeve adds novel, complementary dry eye development programs to Allergan's current eye care research and development programs, including OD-01, a non-invasive nasal neurostimulation device that increases tear production in patients with dry eye disease. Oculeve has completed four clinical studies of OD-01 to date in more than 200 patients, showing positive safety and efficacy of the device. Allergan plans to conduct two additional pivotal trials prior to FDA submission, which is expected in 2016 with potential commercial launch in 2017.

The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Pending approvals, Allergan anticipates closing the transaction in the third quarter of 2015.

Plan now to attend the 10th Global Specialty Lens Symposium to be held January 21 - 24, 2016 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada. This meeting will include insightful presentations by international experts in the field, hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge products and valuable continuing education credits.

The Program Committee of the GSLS invites the submission of Papers and Posters. Papers and abstracts related to presbyopia, keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, myopia control, orthokeratology and lens care topics are welcome.

To submit a photo for the photo contest, submit up to two (2) photographic images in the following anterior segment categories: Contact Lens and Cornea/Conjunctiva/Lids. Contestants also will be able to submit images obtained utilizing such equipment as OCT, topographers, etc.

Visit www.GSLSymposium.com for more information. Web submissions only. Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2015.

--ADVERTISING

Sensimed announced the product registration for the Sensimed Triggerfish in Japan. As a result of a strong collaboration with SEED, a well-renowned Japanese contact lens manufacturer, the device will be available starting the fall 2015.

Sensimed, a Swiss company, has developed a unique non-invasive soft contact lens-based solution, the Sensimed Triggerfish, with the aim of revolutionizing glaucoma management by providing an automated recording of continuous ocular dimensional change over 24 hours. The contact lens itself is very well tolerated over the measurement period and uses telemetry in combination with a fully integrated sensor to measure volumetric change of the eye. To date, Sensimed has published over 25 peer review articles in respected ophthalmic journals to support these conclusions. According to the company, the measurements are highly correlated with intraocular pressure change.

In addition to preparing for the establishment of a sales structure for the Japanese market, the two companies intend to quickly accumulate clinical data from specialized medical centers focused on confirming medical utility of the Sensimed Triggerfish in the field of glaucoma. The focus in Japan will be on the large number of patients who have normal tension glaucoma where standard IOP measurement tools are inadequate and where there is a large unmet need for an alternate diagnostic tool. The 24 hour profiles provided by the device, linked with the disease progression, will be analyzed and modeled in an attempt to confirm pathological patterns that can be used to categorize the disease state and aid personalized treatment.

This first of a kind measurement parameter, ocular dimensional change over a 24 hour period, whilst closely correlated with IOP is a unique measure in itself. Sensimed is working toward validating this measurement has clinical significance and can be used to predict the course of the disease and aid therapeutic choices. The company reports that early analysis of significant in house patient data suggests features in the Sensimed Triggerfish curves have the potential to be both a diagnostic and predictive tool.

For further information about Sensimed visit www.sensimed.ch.

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year’s World Sight Day is on October 8th. This year’s call to action is: Eye Care for All.

Now in its 9th year, and coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight, the World Sight Day Challenge invites eye care professionals, their staff, patients, industry partners and students of Optometry to raise funds throughout September and October to help the 600 million people around the world who are needlessly vision impaired, including those in Haiti. Haiti has a population of 11 million people and only three optometrists.

To donate, or pledge your participation by selecting one of our Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Award levels, please visit www.givingsight.org or call 888 OGS GIVE. Optometry Giving Sight has t-shirts and wristbands for purchase and materials to help you promote your involvement in the practice, at work or at your School. Optometry Giving Sight is currently raising funds to support the establishment of the first School of Optometry in Haiti, which the organization hopes will accept its first students in 2016.

David A. Heath, OD, EdM was elected President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). ASCO is comprised of the 21 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Dr. Heath previously served as President of ASCO during the 2012-2013 academic year. He has been involved in optometric education since 1984 and has been a member of ASCO’s Board of Directors since 2007. He is also active with the American Optometric Association and the New York State Optometric Association.

ASCO’s Board of Directors also elected its Executive Committee during its Annual Meeting in Seattle. Elected are: President-Elect, Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean and Professor, Ohio State University, College of Optometry; Secretary-Treasurer, Elizabeth Hoppe OD, MPH, DrPH, Founding Dean, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry; At-Large Member, David A. Damari, OD, Dean, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University; and Immediate Past-President, Jennifer Coyle, OD, MS, Dean, Pacific University, College of Optometry.

Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation is accepting applications for four scholarship opportunities offered to optometry student members of the AOA and the American Optometric Student Association.

• Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship, sponsored by Essilor
  $10,000 for one third-year student
• InfantSEE Scholarship, sponsored by Vision West, Inc.
  First-place: $5,000 for a third-year student
  Runner-up: $2,500 for a third-year student
• Dr. Seymour Galina Scholarship
  $2,500 for one third-year student
• Dr. Pat and Patrick Cummings Scholarship (sponsored in part by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.)
  $5,000 for a fourth-year student

Each school must set an appropriate on-campus deadline so that there is ample opportunity to judge, select and submit the entries. Entries are due to Optometry Cares no later than October 30, 2015. Winners will be announced in January 2016.

To learn more about endowment and scholarships offered through Optometry Cares or to make a donation to support these scholarships, visit aoafoundation.org/endowment-fund.

These images show lipid deposits on both scleral lenses in a keratoconus patient. The tear reservoir is cloudy and there is tear film debris. The right lens is a week old and the left is six months. The patient is 20/20 in each eye and can comfortably wear the lens for fifteen hours a day. The patient was switched from a GP care solution to a hydrogen peroxide system which resolved the coating. Additionally, the patient was instructed to remove and reinsert the lens at midday to address the reservoir clouding.

We thank Dr. Fuller for the images and we welcome photo submissions from our other readers! It is easy to submit a photo for consideration for publishing in Contact Lenses Today. Simply visit http://www.cltoday.com/upload/upload.aspx to upload your image. Please include an explanation of the photo and your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

^ Back to top

Too Many Multifocals?

With over 30% of the people in the presbyopic population, it is imperative that we look at how these patients are wearing contact lenses. If they are still wearing contact lenses, and we know that many drop out as they enter their forties, they have the option of single vision, monovision, or multifocals. Surprisingly, monovision still makes up a significant percentage. The multifocals that we have really allow our patients the range of vision that they may not get with monovision, especially either at their computer or for reading. But for some of us, the decision of which lens to pick for which patient, can be daunting. Decisions may involve single use, monthly, 2-week, low, high, medium add powers, finding the dominant eye, near center or distance center, modified monovision,… all these options can bring about decision fatigue and thus, for some, the decision to fit NO lens is much easier.

My recommendation: pick one lens and fit the next 10 patients with that lens. When following the fitting guide, our industry partners tell us that we should be successful nearly 70% of the time with our first lens. In conjunction with this, you will certainly need to set proper expectations and give the patient a win at the distance that they most struggle with (for most that is near). Explain how it is going to take time to adapt to the clarity of vision, and ensure they are safe to drive.

^ Back to top

New Product: Clear Care Plus

Alcon launched Clear Care Plus Cleaning and Disinfection Solution in the United States at Optometry’s Meeting the end of June.

Like Clear Care, the solution contains preservative-free 3% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to disinfect contact lenses. In addition, it utilizes the HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix technology to provide wettability to the lenses.

The H₂O₂ is neutralized with a catalytic disc to unpreserved saline; the process takes six hours. The system is FDA-approved for both soft and gas permeable contact lenses.

The company states that Clear Care Plus Cleaning and Disinfection Solution is now available in the United States for over-the-counter purchase.

^ Back to top

The researchers’ objective was to compare tear meniscus measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and tear osmolarity with dry eye severity according to the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) classification system.

Forty-four eyes of 22 patients with dry eye disease (DED) were recruited in this prospective study. In all eyes, ophthalmic examination was performed in the same order as follows: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) survey, tear film osmolarity measurement with TearLab Osmolarity System, tear meniscus measurements by OCT, corneal fluorescein staining scoring, conjunctival lissamine green staining scoring, tear film breakup time assessment, and anesthetized Schirmer test. Dry eye disease severity was graded according to the DEWS dry eye severity grading system, and the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 composed of the patients with grades 1 and 2 DED, and group 2 composed of the patients with grades 3 and 4 DED.

The mean tear osmolarity value was significantly higher in group 2 (318.9±12.8 mOsm/L) than in group 1 (308.1±8.5 mOsm/L) (P<0.01). The mean tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) values were significantly lower in group 2 (172.9±73.5 μm, 121.57±46.2 μm, and 0.013±0.012 mm, respectively) than in group 1 (218.5±70.2 μm, 157.94±49.1 μm, and 0.022±0.013 mm, respectively) (P=0.05, P=0.02, and P=0.026, respectively). There was a negative correlation between TMH and OSDI at the level of 45% (r=-0.450; P<0.05), between TMD and OSDI at the level of 47% (r=-0.470, P<0.05), and lastly between TMA and OSDI at the level of 48.5% (r=-0.485, P<0.05). There was no correlation between OSDI and tear osmolarity (P>0.05).

The researchers concluded that both tear osmolarity and tear meniscus OCT measurements comply with the DEWS grading system, and they can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of dry eye patients in addition to conventional tests.

Tukenmez-Dikmen N, Yildiz EH, Imamoglu S, Turan-Vural E, Sevim MS. Correlation of Dry Eye Workshop Dry Eye Severity Grading System With Tear Meniscus Measurement by Optical Coherence Tomography and Tear Osmolarity. Eye Contact Lens. 2015 May 19. [Epub ahead of print]

A Proud Supporter of

Important Links:
To report adverse contact lens reactions visit: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
To report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule visit: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.

CLToday Services:
Subscribe; Unsubscribe; Submit Clinical Image
Submit news to cltoday@pentavisionmedia.com.

Send your comments and fitting tips to cltoday@pentavisionmedia.com. Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

For more information on Contact Lenses Today including archives of previous issues, please visit our website at www.cltoday.com. For the latest articles on contact lenses, important clinical information and helpful tools related to the contact lens practice visit the Contact Lens Spectrum website at www.clspectrum.com.

© 2015 All Rights Reserved Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of:
PentaVision LLC, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 150, Ambler, PA 19002 | 215-628-6550
© 2015 PentaVision LLC All Rights Reserved.