Sunday, July 18, 2010 A free weekly e-mail newsletter brought to you by: 
CLToday Contact Lens Spectrum
Edited by Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum
This week CLToday® reaches more than 14,000 readers in 74 countries. 
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Consumer Education Brochure on UV and Eyes Now Available in Spanish

To further help parents, caregivers and others better understand the risks associated with UV exposure to the eyes and steps to take to minimize UV exposure, HealthyWomen, the leading independent health information source for women, is now offering the free educational resource, Fast Facts for Your Health: The Sun & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know in Spanish.
     Developed with the support of Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., Fast Facts for Your Health: The Sun & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know offers guidance on what to look for in selecting sunglasses to keep your eyes safe from the sun. It also offers information about UV-blocking contact lenses, which can provide an important measure of additional protection for individuals who wear contact lenses.
     The brochure can be viewed or downloaded at www.healthywomen.org/sunandyoureyes. In addition, eyecare professionals may request a PDF to use online or print. For the English version, please e-mail your request to fastfactsuv@inkandroses.com; for the Spanish version, please e-mail your request to fastfactsuvSPANISH@inkandroses.com.
     If you're interested in customizing copies of the brochure for your practice, when e-mailing your request please provide the information you want to display (i.e., practice name, address, phone number, website address) following these specifications:
· Between 1 and 8 lines
· Type no larger than 12 points
· Logo may be supplied to be used in place of name/address. Will be sized to fit.
· Must fit in upper right hand corner of publication

Moreira Appointed VP Marketing, Menicon America

Menicon Company, Ltd. announces the appointment of David Moreira as Vice President of Marketing for Menicon America, Inc. Moreira will report to Jonathan Jacobson, President of Menicon America, and be responsible for Menicon America's marketing efforts including marketing of products from the recently acquired Lagado Corporation.
     Moreira joins Menicon with over 20 years experience in the contact lens and ophthalmic industry, having worked in a variety of positions with several leading companies, including Bausch + Lomb, Paragon Vision Sciences and Advanced Vision Research. During this time, Moreira played a key leadership role in launching new products, building worldwide brand awareness and generating sales and share growth through laboratory and retail distribution networks. For the last four years, Moreira has led North American sales and marketing efforts for The Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, a leading innovator of premium ophthalmic micro-surgical instruments, equipment and surgical liquids.
     "I am extremely delighted to be joining the Menicon team," said Moreira. "The recent acquisition of Lagado makes this a very exciting time to join Menicon, a growing and innovative industry leader. The Lagado business opens new doors for Menicon, and I look forward to working with the team to combine our strengths in order to better serve the needs of the custom lab channel and specialty contact lens fitter community."

CooperVision Expands Gear Up Grants Program

CooperVision is strengthening its commitment to local community athletes and teens by launching a new round of its Gear Up Grants program, an initiative that helps teens understand how healthy vision can improve their competitive performance on and off the field. This fall, CooperVision will give away an additional $25,000 in Gear Up Grants to help teens get their essential sports gear, including free CooperVision contact lenses for those who need them. A total of ten $2,500 grants will be awarded to winning teams, individual athletes, performers or communities to help them "gear up" this season with the equipment they need.
     CooperVision launched its "Contact Sports" program this past May. Voting for the first round of grant requests is now open through September 6, 2010 and submissions for the second round of the Gear Up Grants are now being accepted online until September 30, 2010 at www.mycontactsports.com. Winners of each round will be announced the weeks of September 13, 2010 and November 29, 2010 respectively. Voters will also be automatically entered to win a 1-year supply of free CooperVision Contact Lenses.
     The practitioners' site at www.mycontactsports.com remains live. The website contains valuable resources including a local event guide, social media guide, and template e-mails that can be customized for teen patients and their parents.

UltraVision Receives Queen's Award for Contact Lens Innovation

UltraVision CLPL, the largest independent manufacturer, supplier and licensor of contact lenses in the UK, scored a double with a second Queen's Award for Enterprise - Innovation. The first was awarded to the company in 2006.
     The Queen's Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a UK company and was awarded specifically for KeraSoft, patented soft and silicone hydrogel contact lenses for irregular corneas including keratoconus.
     The group, formed by J. Keith Lomas, Group CEO, and John Clamp, Group COO, is expanding throughout the world with sales into more than 60 countries. "To receive the Queen's Award once is a serious achievement, but twice is out of this world," said Lomas.

Kids and contacts — A win-win situation for you and your patient

Think children are not responsible enough to take good care of their contact lenses? Then it may be time for you to rethink kids and contact lenses. Because, according to the CLIP1 and ACHIEVE2 studies, younger patients are not only capable of caring for their lenses but also enjoy significant improvements in their self-perception and quality of life. This means that you, as an eye care professional, have an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of your young patients simply by offering to fit them with contact lenses. 
     Making that impact is a lot easier with ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses. ACUVUE® Brand lenses offer exceptional comfort, vision, UV protection, and overall eye health. And ACUVUE® also offers a variety of options to fit the active lifestyles of young patients. Among others in the ACUVUE® family, there are 1·DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® Brand Contact Lenses with convenient daily disposable modality, ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus* technology for smoothness and optimal comfort, and ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM for children with astigmatism. In addition, ACUVUE® is the only contact lens brand that offers UV protection across its entire line of products.
     Make kids and contacts part of your practice. Fit them with ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses and see them — and your practice — reach full potential.

ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting jnjvisioncare.com
     The level of maturity of each young patient and the degree of parental oversight and support should be taken into account in assessing whether the child can follow your recommended wear and care instructions and is a good candidate for contact lens wear.
     WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography and cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.
REFERENCES:
1. Jones LA, Walline JJ, Gaume A, et al. Purchase of contact lenses and contact-lenses-related symptoms following the Contact Lenses in Pediatrics (CLIP) study. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2009;32(40):157-163.
2. Walline JJ, Jones LA, Chitkara M, Coffey B, et al; Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) Study; Optom Vis Sci. 2006; 83(1):37-45.
     *HYDRACLEAR® PLUS is our brand name for the next generation of our proprietary technology that allows us to use a higher volume of a moisture-rich wetting agent in a state of the art formulation. This creates more wettable, ultra smooth contact lens, especially for challenging environments that make the eyes feel dry.
     ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® MOIST®, ACUVUE® OASYS®, and HYDRACLEAR® are registered trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2010.
--ADVERTISING

International Vision Expo West Announces New Programs; Highlights

International Vision Expo West, to be held October 7-9 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, is pleased to announce a variety of programs and continuing education sessions designed to enhance the show experience.
     International Vision Expo West Conference Highlights include:  
· Free Keynote Address: In The Recession is Over! Now What? Jeff Thredgold, president of Thredgold Economic Associates, will present up-to-the minute news on the economy and financial markets, as well as valuable tips to help eye care professionals survive and thrive now that the Great Recession is over.
· Board Certification Review Program: The first national Board Certification Review course will be held. Twelve hours of presentations will be given on topics such as anterior segment therapy, ocular pharmacology, glaucoma, retina, cataract and clinical problem solving. 
· Professional Organization Participation: Several professional organizations will present continuing education courses. The Optical Retina Society will debut four courses regarding diagnosis and management of retinal disorders, while the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry will present an exclusive session dedicated to dry eye diagnosis, management and treatment strategies. In addition, the Optometric Council on Refractive Technology will offer a course on co-management of premium intraocular lenses and the Ocular Nutrition Society will present a session discussing the role of nutrition and exercise in eye care.
     For more information or to register, please visit www.visionexpowest.com.

NovaBay Receives Notice of Allowance for Patent on Anti-Infective Compounds

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office on a patent application for a broad portfolio of anti-infective compounds, including NVC-612. The company reports that the patent will broaden protection for NovaBay's first-in-class Aganocide family of compounds, which are designed to fight infections without causing drug resistance.
     The patent will cover compositions of matter and methods of use for NVC-612 and related compounds, all of which have a unique mechanism of action toward microorganisms. This new patent complements NovaBay's existing collection of more than 20 patents and pending patent applications on its proprietary technology platforms. NovaBay holds a patent for its lead anti-infective compound, NVC-422, and has a license to a broad portfolio of pending patent applications covering N-Chlorotaurine (NCT), the naturally occurring antimicrobial molecule from which NovaBay's technology is derived. NVC-422 is currently being studied in four Phase 2 clinical trials for conjunctivitis, among other applications. 

Global Specialty Lens Symposium ... Call for Papers and Posters

Plan now to attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium to be held January 27-30, 2011 at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. 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 Educational Program Committee of the GSLS invites the submission of abstracts. 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.
     Those interested in submitting can visit www.GSLSymposium.com for more information. Web submissions only. Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2010.
--ADVERTISING

Abstract: Peripheral Refraction With and Without Contact Lens Correction

Peripheral refractive error degrades the quality of retinal images and has been hypothesized to be a stimulus for the development of refractive error. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in refractive error across the horizontal visual field produced by contact lenses (CLs) and to quantify the effect of CLs on peripheral image blur.
     A commercial Shack-Hartmann aberrometer measured ocular wavefront aberrations in 5 degrees steps across the central 60 degrees of visual field along the horizontal meridian before and after CLs correction. Wavefront refractions for peripheral lines-of-sight were based on the full elliptical pupil encountered in peripheral measurements. Curvature of field is the change in peripheral spherical equivalent relative to the eye's optical axis.
     Hyperopic curvature of field in the naked eye increases with increasing amounts central myopic refractive error as predicted by Atchison (2006). For an eccentricity of E degrees, field curvature is approximately E percent of foveal refractive error. Rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses changed field curvature in the myopic direction twice as much as soft CLs (SCLs). Both of these effects varied with CLs power. For all lens powers, SCL cut the degree of hyperopic field curvature in half whereas GP lenses nearly eliminated field curvature. The benefit of reduced field curvature was partly offset by increased oblique astigmatism. The net reduction of retinal blur because of CLs is approximately constant across the visual field.
     The researchers concluded that both SCL and GP lenses reduced the degree of hyperopic field curvature present in myopic eyes, with GP lenses having greater effect. The tradeoff between field curvature and off-axis astigmatism with GP lenses may limit their effectiveness for control of myopia progression. These results suggest that axial growth mechanisms that depend on retinal image quality will be affected more by GP than by SCL lenses.
Shen J, Clark CA, Soni PS, Thibos LN. Peripheral Refraction With and Without Contact Lens Correction. Optom Vis Sci. 2010 Jul 1.

Editor's Commentary: What is the future of contact lenses?

It goes without saying that if you are reading these materials on a weekly basis, you probably believe to some extent that contact lenses are amazing medical devices. But have you gazed into the crystal ball to consider what the future should bring in terms of the next generation of contact lenses? What will the contact lens of 2020 bring that will lead to even more growth in the contact lens market (and I am thinking about things beyond improved safety and comfort)? Please email your opinions on this to me at jnichols@optometry.osu.edu.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO 

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: fitting silicone hydrogels for patients with sub-optimal endothelial cell function, tear exchange rate with silicone hydrogel lenses, and our synopsis of silicone hydrogels at the 2009 AAO meeting.

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/.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com. Your tip may be selected as best of the month. See http://www.CLToday.com for details. Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
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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