CONTACT LENSES TODAY

July 13, 2003

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches nearly 10,000 readers in 74 countries.

AOA Presents CL Section Awards
At the American Optometric Association's annual meeting last month, representatives of the Association's Contact Lens and Cornea Section presented the following awards:
• Achievement Award to Dr. N. Rex Ghormley of St. Louis, Mo.
• Dr. Donald Korb Award for Excellence to Dr. Robert J. Morrison of Harrisburg, Pa.
• Dr. Rodger Kame Award in memory of Dr. George W. Mertz.

Bailey First to Receive Section-Sponsored Fellowship
The American Optometric Foundation (AOF), in conjunction with the American Academy of Optometry's Section on Cornea & Contact Lenses, is pleased to announce the recipient of the Section on Cornea & Contact Lenses-Ezell Fellowship, Dr. Melissa Bailey of the Ohio State University College of Optometry. The Fellowship provides financial support to postgraduate students who plan to pursue an academic career in optometry and vision science. Dr. Peter Bergenske, AOF president, stated, "Dr. Bailey's educational experience and initiative demonstrate the characteristics that initiated this program within the Section." For more information about AOF or about the Section on Cornea & Contact Lenses-Ezell Fellowship, please contact AOF at (301) 984-4734 or e-mail christine@aaoptom.org.

CLASS Supplement Delayed
The table of contents of the July issue of Contact Lens Spectrum incorrectly stated that the yearly Contact Lenses and Solutions Summary (CLASS) supplement was included with that issue. The CLASS will accompany the upcoming August issue. Contact Lens Spectrum regrets the error.

Opti-Free Express Lasting Comfort No Rub Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution achieved the highest loyalty rate among multi-purpose solutions buyers with 73% of their total ounce purchases awarded to Opti-Free Express Lasting Comfort No Rub Formula. The brand loyalty rate for Opti-Free Express was 10% higher than for ReNu and 12% higher than for Complete.* http://www.norub.com.
*Data Source: ACNielson Household panel data 52 weeks ending November 23, 2002.
--ADVERTISING

Menicon Announces Sale of Menicon Progent
After marketing its protein remover for GP lenses all over the world, Menicon now announces the availability of its product, Menicon Progent, in the United States for professional use. According to the company, Progent removes protein deposits and disinfects lenses and instead of traditional polishing, patients can clean their fluorosilicone GP lenses with Progent. Con-Cise Contact Lens Co., ABB Optical and Oregon Ophthalmology Group Provider distribute the new product.

Vision Caucus to Raise Awareness
Dedicated to strengthening and stimulating a national dialogue and policy on vision-related problems and disabilities, a bipartisan coalition of Congressional Members has formed the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC). A press conference will take place on July 16th to launch the CVC, whose mission is, among other things, to set forth a national vision strategy to raise awareness that the number of Americans at risk for age-related diseases is increasing as the baby boomer generation ages and to provide a better understanding of the personal risk of vision loss and stress the importance of necessary steps to preserve and protect eyesight.

CRT's One-Year Anniversary Marked with More Than 1,500 Certifications
Since the introduction of Paragon overnight Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) with its Diagnostic Dispensing System and complete Practice Management Marketing Program in August 2002, Paragon Vision Sciences announces that more than 1,500 eyecare practitioners in more than 1,300 locations have elected to offer CRT to consumers.

Editor's Commentary: STAAR ICL Potential Competition for CLs?
STAAR Surgical Company recently announced that the Pre-Market Approval Application (PMA) for its Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) has been accepted for substantive review by the U.S. FDA and has been granted an expedited review status. The company is presently enrolling candidates in the clinical trial for the hyperopic ICL as well as the Toric ICL, which reduces myopia combined with astigmatism. If granted approval by the FDA, STAAR will be allowed to market the ICL in the United States for the reduction of myopia in the range of -3.00D to -20.00D. Although some eyecare leaders are concerned about long-term effects, look for these devices to become another leading competitor to contact lenses. Nearly every ophthalmologist in the country who performs cataract surgery may become interested in inserting these lenses in "contact lens failures."

Fitting Tip: Let Them 'Test Drive' Colored CLs Too
I couldn't agree more with Dr. Barr's comments in last week's Editor's Commentary, but I'd like to suggest that this approach works equally as well with patients who are undecided about color. Once the fit has been established, I find that if I give the patient a couple of extra lenses in various colors, then he can decide in the privacy of his own home which colors he prefers. Also, this gives family members a chance to help make the decision. The only trick to this working well, however, is careful chart documentation as to what was given followed up with documentation of which color you end up ordering. Patients really appreciate this option and it saves chair time and staff time.
--Jean Ann Vickery, FCLSA
Oklahoma City, Okla.

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