The American Optometric Association (AOA) applauds members of congress from both parties for voting to override President Bush's veto of legislation passed to stop massive cuts in the Medicare program, according to a press release issued by the AOA. 
    The AOA-backed bill, H.R. 6331, prevents a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians and managed care plans and halts new regulations governing durable medical equipment (DME) accreditation. The AOA reports that the measure also prevents the 5 percent pay cut scheduled to begin January 1, 2009, extends a 0.5 percent payment update through December 31, 2008 and provides a positive update of 1.1 percent for 2009 while blocking implementation of a proposed DMEPOS (durable medical equipment/prosthetics, orthotics and supplies) accreditation restriction, which the AOA strongly opposed. The measure also provides Congress with a full 18 months to find a solution to the Medicare-sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula. If Congress had not intervened, these pay cuts to doctors would have undoubtedly limited care and service for seniors and others who depend on Medicare, the AOA maintained.
    "Congress heard us loud and clear. Massive Medicare cuts would have severely hampered our mission to ensure that America's seniors have access to quality and affordable eye care. I'm proud of the role that optometry played in averting a Medicare meltdown and protecting patient access to care," said Dr. Peter Kehoe, O.D., AOA President.

According to their newsletter, the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) and General Optical Council have launched a campaign aimed at helping consumers in the United Kingdom buy contact lenses safely. A press release was sent out to UK consumer media citing two recent studies from Australia and the U.S. suggesting increased risks associated with purchasing contact lenses online. The release details two cases of contact lens complications resulting from failure to follow good eye care practices: one an extended wear soft lens user who failed to seek proper follow-up care having bought lenses online, and the other a patient who bought plano cosmetic lenses in a clothing and accessories shop. The BCLA campaign also promotes a consumer brochure on buying contact lenses which is available for purchase only to BCLA members. 

Bedfordshire, UK based contact lens manufacturer, UltraVision, has made the eco-friendly decision to replace its printed newsletter with an e-newsletter.  As with its predecessor, MakingWAVES, this e-newsletter is designed to keep practitioners informed of products available from UltraVision, throughout the UK and internationally.
     To sign up for this regular e-newsletter, visit www.ultravision.co.uk.

Athletes, teens, part-time wearers, and those who are solution-sensitive, suffer from allergies or frequently travel are all great 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand Contact Lens candidates. All these patient types and more can benefit from the long lasting comfort of LACREON™ technology, the convenience of fresh lenses every day and the protection of Class II UV blocking.* Improve the quality of life for more patients by prescribing 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand. To learn more, go to:
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VSP Vision Care has added former United States Solicitor General Ken Starr to its legal team as it petitions for a writ of certiorari to The Supreme Court of the United States for a final hearing on its federal tax-exempt status. As reported by the company, Ken Starr joins the VSP appellate legal team that includes senior litigation partner Douglas C. Ross of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, who has represented VSP in this tax matter since 2003, and Thomas A. Fessler, VSP's Vice President and General Counsel,. 
     "This case is really about determining what guidelines the IRS uses to define what constitutes a tax exempt not-for-profit organization," states Ken Starr. "VSP had a tax-exemption for more than 40 years, has not changed their business philosophy or focus on the community and yet lost their tax-exempt status. In the end, we are simply asking the Supreme Court to recognize the significant community benefit VSP offers to more than 55 million Americans."
     "Because we are a not-for-profit, surplus revenues are reinvested into our charity programs designed to help less fortunate Americans receive eyecare," states VSP president and CEO Rob Lynch. "Funds are also used to deploy new technologies that reduce administrative costs, expand access to eyecare in the communities we serve and offer continuing education to the patients and doctors in our national network. We are hopeful that The Supreme Court of the United States will recognize the importance of this case, not only to VSP, but to the delivery of healthcare in America."

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 sean.casey@wolterskluwer.com.
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The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Board of Directors adopted measures to enhance the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Per the organization, the newly revised PhRMA Code, which builds on the previous 2002 version, is part of PhRMA's ongoing effort to ensure that pharmaceutical marketing practices comply with the highest ethical standards.
     The voluntary PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals will take effect in January 2009. Among its changes, the revised Code:
-- Prohibits distribution of non-educational items (such as pens, mugs and other objects typically adorned with a company or product logo) to healthcare providers and their staff.
-- Prohibits company sales representatives from providing restaurant meals to healthcare professionals, but allows them to provide occasional meals in healthcare professionals' offices in conjunction with informational presentations.
-- Includes new provisions that require companies to ensure that their representatives are sufficiently trained about applicable laws, regulations and industry codes of practice that govern interactions with healthcare professionals.
-- Provides that each company will state its intentions to abide by the Code and that company CEOs and Compliance Officers will certify each year that they have processes in place to comply.
     Other additions to the Code include more detailed standards regarding the independence of continuing medical education (CME); principles on the responsible use of non-patient identified prescriber data; and additional guidance for speaking and consulting arrangements with healthcare professionals, including disclosure requirements for healthcare providers who are members of committees that set formularies or develop clinical practice guidelines and who also serve as speakers or consultants for a pharmaceutical company.

Imagine not being able to work or look after your family simply because you don't have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
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         ...and give sight - and hope - to people in need.
Register at www.givingsight.org or contact 1-888-OGS-GIVE / usa@givingsight.org.
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The objective of this study was to establish the absolute risk of contact lens (CL)-related microbial keratitis, the incidence of vision loss and risk factors for disease. It was a prospective, 12-month, population-based surveillance study. New cases of CL-related microbial keratitis presenting in Australia over a 12-month period were identified through surveillance of all ophthalmic practitioners (numerator). Case detection was augmented by records' audits at major ophthalmic centers. The denominator (number of wearers of different CL types in the community) was established using a national telephone survey of 35,914 individuals.
     Cases and controls were interviewed by telephone to determine subject demographics and CL wear history. Visual outcomes were determined six months after the initial event. Annualized incidence and confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for different severities of disease and multivariable analysis was used in risk factor analysis. The main outcomes measured included annualized incidence (with CI) of disease and vision loss by CL type and wear modality and identification of independent risk factors.
     Researchers identified 285 eligible cases of CL-related microbial keratitis and 1798 controls. In daily wear rigid gas-permeable CL wearers, the annualized incidence per 10,000 wearers was 1.2 (CI, 1.1-1.5); in daily wear soft CL wearers 1.9 (CI, 1.8-2.0); soft CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 2.2 (CI, 2.0-2.5); daily disposable CL wearers 2.0 (CI, 1.7-2.4); daily disposable CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 4.2 (CI, 3.1-6.6); daily wear silicone hydrogel CL wearers 11.9 (CI, 10.0-14.6); silicone hydrogel CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 5.5 (CI, 4.5-7.2); overnight wear soft CL wearers 19.5 (CI, 14.6-29.5) and in overnight wear of silicone hydrogel 25.4 (CI, 21.2-31.5). Loss of vision occurred in 0.6 per 10,000 wearers. Risk factors included overnight use, poor storage case hygiene, smoking, Internet purchase of CLs, <6 months wear experience, and higher socioeconomic class.
     The researchers concluded that incidence estimates for soft CL use were similar to those previously reported. New lens types have not reduced the incidence of disease. Overnight use of any CL is associated with a higher risk than daily use.
Stapleton F, Keay L, Edwards K, Naduvilath T, Dart JK, Franzco GB, Holden B. The Incidence of Contact Lens-Related Microbial Keratitis in Australia. Ophthalmology. 2008 Jun 4.

Last weekend I was running with a colleague who is about a fifteen diopter myope and wears gas permeable contact lenses. We were several miles into our trail run when she said her contact lenses felt great. I've not known this colleague to ever express "great comfort" with her contact lenses in the past, so I asked what was different. She remarked that she was wearing soft lenses and had her GPs piggybacked. I asked if she was doing this all the time. She stated she was only wearing the soft lens on a part-time basis for all her sporting and outdoor activities, when she was more likely to get irritating dirt and debris underneath the lenses. She tried full-time piggybacking in the past but the soft lenses did not provide all day comfort; however, she easily has 4-6 hours of comfort with the soft lenses. She also stated that she wished someone had recommended part-time piggybacking years ago for her for outdoor activities.
Carla Mack, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O.

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: daily disposable silicone hydrogel lenses, the proactive practice, fitting trends, and part one of our ARVO 2008 update.