CONTACT LENSES TODAY

July 15, 2007

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.


FDA Clears B&L Greenville Facility
Following a complete inspection of Bausch & Lomb’s (B&L) Greenville, S.C. solutions manufacturing plant and distribution center, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that both facilities are in acceptable compliance.
    The assessment of the facility was a follow-up to the agency’s inspection conducted from March 22 through May 15, 2006 when the FDA issued the company a Form 483 report containing a series of observations. B&L responded with a comprehensive plan of corrective actions on June 30, 2006. In October 2006, the FDA issued a Warning Letter summarizing the agency’s assessment of the corrective actions completed as of June 30, and documenting those corrective actions still in process at the time. Upon the conclusion of the inspection on June 29, 2007, the FDA indicated to the company that all corrective actions had been completed appropriately and made no objectionable observations.
    “We are pleased that this inspection confirmed the successful implementation of all commitments made by Bausch & Lomb to the FDA, an outcome made possible through the efforts and dedication of our Greenville employees,” said Gerhard Bauer, senior vice president-global operations and engineering for the company.

CLC Launches New Website
The Contact Lens Council (CLC), a non-profit organization and resource on vision correction, has launched its new Web site, http://www.mycontactlenses.org, to educate patients about the wealth of new innovations currently available.
    Features include FAQs, an overview of currently available lenses and section on contact lens history, lens care and new innovations.

Increased Comfort Delivers Lasting Patient Satisfaction Nothing drives referrals like satisfied patients. And nothing satisfies patients like the comfort and minimal corneal staining that can be provided by ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus. In a recent clinical study, new wearers exhibited no significant difference in corneal staining and reported no significant difference in overall comfort between ACUVUE® OASYS™ and no lens. And in an in-market trial, 89% of patients fit with ACUVUE® OASYS™ would recommend their doctors based on their experience. How will you satisfy your patients and build your practice with ACUVUE® OASYS™?
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Global Keratoconus Congress 2008
Contact Lens Spectrum and the LWW Health Care Conference Group will host the second Global Keratoconus Congress (GKC), January 25-27, 2008, at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. As with the 2007 meeting, the 2008 congress will include information for vision care professionals in all disciplines, with both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. GKC 2008 will also feature 15 new speakers providing hands-on workshops, strategies for irregular astigmatism and expert insights into fitting after surgery and corneal trauma. More than 500 participants attended the 2007 meeting, which was accredited for continuing education under COPE, NCLE and JCAHPO and offered 17.5 credit hours. Those interested in attending the 2008 Global Keratoconus Congress can visit http://www.GKCongress.com for more information or to register for this unique meeting. Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Heather Seasholtz at 215-643-8073.
    Additionally, the Educational Program Committee of the Global Keratoconus Congress invites the submission of abstracts for the Free Papers and Scientific Posters Competition to be held January 25-27, 2008 in Las Vegas. Papers and Posters related to keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, gas permeable lens and lens care topics are welcome. Please visit http://www.GKCongress.com for information.
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Abstract: CL Wear & Corneal Oxygenation
A study published in this month’s journal, Cornea, attempts to estimate the impact of contact lens wear on oxygen distribution across the cornea and to validate or refute preexisting models that estimate this impact.
Researchers constructed a two-dimensional (2-D) axi-symetric finite element analysis (FEA) model of a -3.00D contact lens on the eye. The model included the varying thickness profiles of the contact lens and cornea. (By symmetry, they say this 2-D model is equivalent to a full 3-D model. They used the BEL model for oxygen permeability, material thickness profile, and oxygen consumption coefficients. They considered several different oxygen consumption profiles and generated Oxygen partial pressure, flux, and consumption profiles.
    Investigators generated profiles of the oxygen partial pressure, flux, and consumption from the central cornea to the limbal junction. They found the BEL model parameters yielded regions of oxygen deficiency in the corneal periphery, even in the open eye with no contact lens. They conclude that if the BEL model cannot account for oxygenation across the whole cornea, it may be incorrect or incomplete. They also say the results call into question any conclusions from the BEL model regarding the minimum contact lens transmissibility necessary to fully oxygenate the eye.
Alvord LA, Hall WJ, Keyes LD, Morgan CF, Winterton LC. Corneal oxygen distribution with contact lens wear. Cornea. 2007 Jul;26(6):654-64.


Editor's Commentary: It's Been a Great Experience, Now Off to Another
It’s been an awesome opportunity to be the editor of Contact Lens Spectrum and CLToday. I have so many to thank for their support and guidance over these past decades. I've always tried to provide usable contact lens and related information and I know Dr. Carla Mack and her editorial team at Contact Lens Spectrum and CLToday will provide equally pertinent information, news and analysis for you in the future.
A special thank you to CLToday managing editor, Michelle Boyles, for her diligent work producing the newsletter each week.
    I've been rewarded beyond belief in so many ways as I've communicated with you, and you with me, about our field over the years. Now I am off to try to contribute to the contact lens, lens care and eye care professions in a different way. My goal is to help the great people I will join in industry to develop the next generations of products for you and your patients.
Best wishes!
Dr. Joseph T. Barr.


Reader Commentary: Traveling for CL Care
I have a few patients who travel to see me from around the world, the furthest from Canada to New Zealand, and a few from Sydney, Australia, as well as Japan and various parts of Asia and one film star from Hollywood. I see some every week who travel 100 to 200km from Auckland and those who travel by plane from the South Island and other centers in New Zealand. That’s the power of a specialized GP practice!
    My father also sees similar long distance patients from within South Africa as well as Europe, USA and Australia. He is in his 57th year of optometric practice in South Africa and 50th year of hard lens management.
Alan P Saks, MCOptom, Dip.Optom, FCLS, FAAO,
Auckland, New Zealand.



This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org enter the topical discussion into the classification of silicone hydrogel lenses into specific categories. Follow the work of Dr Phil Morgan et al who have independently examined the oxygen permeability of current silicone hydrogel lenses using a new and repeatable technique, and read into the use of custom designed silicone hydrogel lenses.

Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.

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