CONTACT LENSES TODAY

July 20, 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.


GOS Rescheduled
As we informed you previously, BCI's Healthcare Conference Group cancelled this year's Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS) because of health concerns about travelling to Toronto. However, this event has been rescheduled for July 22-25, 2004, and will still take place at the Sheraton Toronto Centre. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call (800) 549-3656.

Glaucoma Program Raises Awareness
Earlier this year, Alcon Laboratories launched its nationwide urban outreach initiative, Travatan Project Focus. According to Alcon, through a series of free screenings at local churches, community centers and major cultural events, coupled with the distribution of educational material and local and national advertising, Travatan Project Focus is succeeding in encouraging African-Americans to become more conscious of their eye health. Prevent Blindness America administers Travatan Project Focus glaucoma screenings in various major markets.

AOA Rearranges Board
The American Optometric Association (AOA) elected its 2003-2004 Board of Trustees recently. Victor J. Connors moved up to the position of president, replacing J. Pat Cummings and Wesley E. Pittman was elected president-elect. Richard L. Wallingford was elected vice president and C. Thomas Crooks, III was elected secretary-treasurer. In addition, Kevin L. Alexander, PhD, and Randolph E. Brooks were each re-elected for three-year terms. Also, Carol Dibble Record was re-elected to a two-year term. Other members of the Board include Peter H. Kehoe, Joe E. Ellis and J. Wayne Buck.

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Novartis Ophthalmics Downsized
Starting on September 4th, Novartis Group will close Novartis Ophthalmics, Inc.'s facility in Duluth, Georgia and cut 172 jobs over a period of four months. Parent company Novartis AG will integrate the ophthalmics business as a separate business unit of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. in New Jersey.

CORRECTION
Last week we reported that Oregon Ophthalmology Group Provider (OOGP) is a Menicon Progent provider. The organization's correct name is Oregeon Optometric Group Provider and it prefers to be called OOGP. The staff of CLToday apologizes for this error.

Abstract: Study Shows No Decrease in Myopia Progression With GPs
In a randomized clinical trial, researchers in Baltimore, Md. studied both eyes of 383 Singaporean children ages 6 through 12 to test whether GP lens wear can reduce the rate of myopia progression in school-age children. The children had myopia of between -1.00D and -4.00D, astigmatism less than or equal to 2.00D and no prior contact lens wear. The researchers measured the children's cycloplegic subjective refraction, keratometry and axial length at 12 and 24 months and noted an increase in the spherical equivalent of -1.33D and -1.28D (P=.64) and axial length increased by 0.84mm and 0.79mm (P=.38) over two years among children randomized to contact lenses and spectacles, respectively. Children who adapted to contact lenses wore them for a median of seven hours each day, but no more than 40% wore them at least eight hours each day, seven days each week. The researchers found that GP lenses didn't slow the rate of myopia progression, even among children who used them regularly and consistently.
Katz, J; Schein, OD; Levy, B; Cruiscullo, T; Saw, SM; Rajan, U; Chan, TK; Yew Khoo, C; Chew, SJ. A Randomized Trial of Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses to Reduce Progression of Children's Myopia. Am J Ophthalmol 2003 Jul;136(1):82-90.


Editor's Commentary: GPs and Myopia Progression
The long-awaited publication of the article in this week's abstract should not be taken in context and I encourage you to read the entire article. The exposure to GP lens wear was low, as you can see, and many of the wearers dropped out in that group. The Contact Lens and Myopia Progression (CLAMP) study, conducted by Jeff Walline, OD, PhD, is referred to in this paper and is still being completed. In the CLAMP study, randomization occurred after the subjects reported wearing GP lenses and they had to wear them at least 40 hours per week. In fact, they wore them an average of 72.7 hours each week (SD = 19 hours) at the radomization visit. My point is that the Singapore study may or may not be the final answer on this subject. The best Treatment option for young myopes, GP lenses, CRT, ortho-k or high-Dk soft contact lenses or daily disposable lenses, is still not a certainty.

Fitting Tip: Return Dry Eye Sufferers to CL Wear
Many treatments for dry eye can keep a patient successfully wearing contact lenses. These treatments include more frequent lens replacement, using an optimum contact lens material, regular installation of artificial tears and even punctal plugs, drinking eight glasses of water each day and taking supplements such as flaxseed oil. But what we most often overlook is a patient's use of his contact lens solution. That's why it's a good idea to ascertain compliance with the directions written inside the box. Also consider switching to a nonpreserved solution such as UltraCare, PureEyes or AOSept. Doing so has had a big impact on my patients. All in all, patients welcome a more complicated care system if it allows them to wear contact lenses once again.
--Susan Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO
Ann Arbor, Mich.


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