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 Sunday, July 13, 2008 A free weekly e-mail newsletter brought to you by: 
CLToday Contact Lens Spectrum
Edited by Carla Mack, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O. and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum
This week CLToday® reaches more than 14,000 readers in 74 countries. 
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Novartis Completes Acquisition of 25 Percent Stake in Alcon

Novartis has acquired a 25% stake in Alcon Inc. as part of a definitive agreement with Nestle S.A. reached in April 2008 that provides the right to acquire majority ownership of Alcon, Inc. in two steps. The first step was completed on July 7 when Novartis purchased the Alcon stake from Nestle for approximately USD 10.4 billion in cash. This purchase price was approximately USD 200 million less than previously announced to account for the Alcon dividend paid in May 2008 for these shares to Nestle rather than Novartis.
     The optional second step provides rights for Novartis to acquire, and Nestle to sell, the remaining 52 percent stake held by Nestle between January 2010 and July 2011 for a price not exceeding approximately USD 28 billion. Completion of the optional second step would make Alcon a majority-owned subsidiary of Novartis. 

B&L Names Sheets Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Bausch & Lomb (B&L) has named John W. Sheets, Jr., Ph.D., as corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, leading the company's global research and development efforts. Dr. Sheets has more than 25 years of experience in the medical device industry, with a specialization in ophthalmic research and development.
     Before joining B&L Sheets served as global President and CEO of HOYA Surgical Optics. Previously, he was worldwide Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Technical Officer at Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson company), and Vice President, Surgical, IOL and Therapeutics Research and Development, at Alcon Laboratories. He also held roles as Director, New Product and Process Development at IOLAB Corporation (a Johnson & Johnson company), and Director of Research for Pharmacia Ophthalmics, Inc.
     Dr. Sheets holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering, as well as a B.S. degree in Zoology with a post-baccalaureate in Chemistry, all from the University of Florida. He also graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard University. 

New Eco-Friendly Starter Kits from Alcon

Alcon, Inc. will soon be sending newly redesigned, more eco-friendly Opti-Free Replenish starter kits to practices in the United States. Though the new kit contains a lens case and the same sized solution bottle as the current kit, it comes in a more compact, space-saving package - 44% smaller than the original, thereby using less paper, according to the company. 
     To celebrate this new, greener Opti-Free, Alcon is teaming up with U.S. optometrists to help revive the planet. Alcon will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant up to 10,000 new trees in U.S. National Forests. For more information visit http://www.opti-free.com/eye-doctor/eco-friendly-starter-kit/.  
     In a related story, Alcon is also launching a new e-magazine, OPTI, dedicated to celebrating the beauty of our eyes. OPTI articles cover many subjects from eye care tips and short stories to lifestyle guides and humor columns. To view an issue go to http://www.opti-free.com/emagazine/.

A New Way to See the World

Acuvue Oasys for AstigmatismResearch suggests that many toric contact lens wearers are not satisfied with their visual performance. Make your patients' experience satisfying with new ACUVUE® OASYSBrand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM. The latest in toric lenses combines HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort with Accelerated Stabilization Design for crisp, clear vision. To learn more, go to jnjvisioncare.com.
Important Safety Information
--ADVERTISING

StainingGrid.com Welcomes Its 100,000 Visitor

Interest remains high in the clinical research published by Andrasko and associates on the website www.staininggrid.com, which has recently surpassed 100,000 hits by viewers, as reported by Dr. Gary Andrasko. The website contains the results of corneal staining of approximately 100 combinations of contact lens and contact lens solutions. The researchers maintain an active blog, post the study parameters, and provide an easy to use clinical tool in the format of a grid. Dr. Andrasko has lectured on his research around the world; the research has helped fuel debate and spurred a host of clinical studies.

Inaugural ABO-NCLE National Education Conference - Early Bird Registration Available

Over 150 hours of ABO-NCLE approved optical and contact lens training is available September 18-21, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This venue is also the location of the Opticians Association of America 2008 National Opticians Convention. This conference will offer four days of training and education to improve an optician's technical, professional, managerial and personal performance. The weekend will include review classes for both the ABO and NCLE Basic and Advanced exams, with the corresponding certification examinations offered on-site.
     The Optical Showcase exhibit hall will feature state-of-the-art products, major companies from the optical and contact lens fields and "show and tell" demonstrations. Social events before and after classes and exhibit hall hours will offer plenty of opportunity for networking with colleagues.
     Enjoy discounts with early registration before August 1, 2008. www.abo-ncle-conference.com.

Tru-Form Optics and Lens Dynamics Reach Licensing Agreement

Tru-Form Optics, Inc. and Lens Dynamics, Inc. have entered into a patent licensing agreement which covers Quadrant Specific Technology that may be applied to certain contact lenses designed and manufactured by the companies. The terms of the agreement are confidential.   
     Tru-Form Optics, a manufacturer of GP contact lenses based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area, was granted a patent for Quad Technology in 2007. Under this patent, Tru-Form Optics markets its QuadraKone contact lens design for keratoconus and Lens Dynamics, a GP contact lens manufacturer located outside of Denver, CO, markets its Quad Sym designs for irregular corneas.  Quadrant Specific Technology designs allow the eye care practitioner to order four different base curves and/or different edge lifts in the four different quadrants of the lens design. According to the companies, highly irregular corneas benefit most from this expanded design flexibility. 
     For more information on Quadrant Specific designs contact Tru-Form Optics, Inc. at 800-792-1095 or visit www.tfoptics.com or contact Lens Dynamics, Inc. at 800-228-2691 or visit www.lensdynamics.com

Global Specialty Lens Symposium


Contact Lens Spectrum
and the Health Care Conference Group will host the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), January 15-18, 2009, at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
     The GSLS will include presentations on the latest techniques and technologies for the successful management of ocular conditions using today's specialty contact lenses. Truly an international meeting, GSLS will provide insights of experts from around the globe and hands-on access to the most current products available. The program will be accredited for continuing education under COPE, NCLE and JCAHPO, offering 17+ credit hours.
     Those interested in attending and/or submitting free papers or posters to the Global Specialty Lens Symposium can visit www.GSLSymposium.com for more information or to register for this unique meeting. Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Sean Casey at 732-483-4302 or caseys@lwwvisioncare.com.
--ADVERTISING

Crystalens HD Receives FDA Approval

Bausch & Lomb (B&L) announced that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Crystalens HD in the United States. The Crystalens HD is the fourth generation of the only FDA approved accommodating lens.
     According to B&L, the surface of the Crystalens HD has been shaped to enhance the depth of focus with a proprietary optical modification. The enhanced optic provides an increased depth of focus which is designed to improve near vision without compromising intermediate or distance vision. The HD lens does this without inducing increased undesirable dysphotopsia or night vision symptoms, per the company.

Abstract: Risk Factors for Microbial Keratitis with Contemporary Contact Lenses, a Case-Control Study

Researchers in London wanted to assess the relative risks (RR) of microbial keratitis (MK) for contemporary contact lens (CL) types and wearing schedules. The two-year prospective case-control study began in December 2003. Cases included 367 CL wearers attending Moorfields Eye Hospital with proven or presumed MK. Controls were 1069 hospital controls, who were CL wearers with a disorder unrelated to CL wear, and 639 population-based controls who were CL wearers randomly selected from the Moorfields area. Hospital patients completed a self-administered questionnaire; population-based controls were interviewed by telephone. Multivariate analysis was done both for all cases of MK, and for the moderate and severe MK subgroups alone.
     The RR for developing MK, and vision loss, for all lens types was compared with planned replacement soft lenses (the referent). Compared with planned replacement soft lenses (the referent), the RR of MK was significantly increased with daily disposable (DD) CLs (RR, 1.56x [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-2.1]; P = 0.009) and differed between different brands of DD lens, was reduced for rigid lenses (RR, 0.16x [95% CI, 0.06-0.4]; P<0.001), and no different for silicone hydrogel or other types of soft lens. Although the risk of MK was higher overall among DD lens users, the risk of vision loss was less than for planned replacement soft CL users (P = 0.05); no DD lens users lost vision to the level of >/=20/40. The RR for overnight wear, for any lens type, was 5.4 times higher (95% CI, 3.3-10.9; P<0.001). Comparison of the DD soft CL types with planned replacement soft lenses (the referent), showed significant differences between brands for the risk of MK.
     Researchers concluded that the risk of MK has not been reduced in users of DD and silicone hydrogel CLs. However, vision loss is less likely to occur in DD than in reusable soft CL users. Different brands of CL may be associated with significantly different risks of keratitis; understanding these differences should lead to the development of safer soft lenses. These findings suggest that lens/ocular surface interactions may be more important in the development of corneal infection than oxygen levels and CL case contamination.
Dart JK, Radford CF, Minassian D, Verma S, Stapleton F. Risk Factors for Microbial Keratitis with Contemporary Contact Lenses A Case-Control Study. Ophthalmology. 2008 Jul 1. 

Editor's Commentary: To Err Is Human

The industry, many market surveys, research and Contact Lens Spectrum have been focused on both contact lens and contact lens care compliance. We have especially focused on how our perceptions of what our patients know, understand and actually do have changed. As practitioners, we all like to think that we have great practices and that our staff and patients listen to us and do what we advise or know what we would advise even if we don't say it. Some of us even have trouble admitting our own non-compliance and mistakes.
     In the past month, with so many new lenses available, I've tried several different lenses to compare the comfort and vision to my own. Several weeks ago, I applied a right lens and then the left lens. The right lens felt great but the left lens was incredibly cloudy. I thought, wow, there must be a defect in the lens. After I removed the lens, I realized I could see great with my left eye. Now, I'll admit to my own humorous error. I still had my own left contact lens on. The moral of this story is we all make silly mistakes from time to time whether we are aware of the error or not. We should not assume our patients can read our minds or remember our instructions from years or even months ago and it is good to admit and accept your own human error as well. 
Carla Mack, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O.

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: third generation silicone hydrogels; corneal oxygen consumption with different silicone hydrogel lenses; and part two of our 2007 AAO update.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.

Report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule at: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.
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For more information on Contact Lenses Today including archives of previous issues or to subscribe to this newsletter, 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.
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