Novartis Completes Acquisition of 25 Percent Stake in Alcon
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
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
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
Important Safety Information
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StainingGrid.com Welcomes Its 100,000 Visitor
Inaugural ABO-NCLE National Education Conference - Early Bird Registration Available
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, 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.
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Crystalens HD Receives FDA Approval
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
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
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.
Report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule at: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.