CONTACT LENSES TODAY

July 25, 2004

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 10,000 readers in 74 countries.

AOF Selects Szczotka Flynn as Ezell Fellow
The Board of Directors of the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) has selected Loretta Szczotka Flynn, OD, as the 2004-2005 Cornea and Contact Lenses Section Ezell Fellow. The AOF will recognize all Ezell Fellows at the AOF Research Luncheon on December 12, 2004. As an Ezell Fellow, the AOF will require Dr. Szczotka Flynn to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry as well as the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

Fruits + Veggies = Lower Risk of AMD
We've all known that fruits and vegetables are good for us, but we're still learning about their specific benefits. For example, in our June 20 issue, we shared with you news that people who ate at least three daily servings of bananas, oranges and other fruits had a 36% lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than people who ate fewer than 1.5 servings a day. Another recent study shows that sulforaphane, the naturally occurring antioxidant in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, protects the eye from damage caused by UV light, which can lead to macular degeneration. You can find the complete write-up of this study in the July 13, 2004 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.

New Study Shows Hyper-Dk/t Lenses Improve Signs of Corneal Health
NEW STUDY SHOWS HYPER-Dk/t LENSES IMPROVE SIGNS OF CORNEAL HEALTH. Current daily and extended wear soft contact lens wearers showed rapid improvements in many signs of corneal health and symptoms when changed to Focus^ŽNIGHT & DAY^Ž silicone hydrogel lenses. Improvements in biomicroscopy signs and patient-reported symptoms continued throughout the first year of wear.
Source: Dillehay et al "Changes in Biomicroscopy Signs and Symptoms . . . . "
http://www.mycibavision.com
--ADVERTISING

Results of National Survey on Eye Health
In March and April 2004, FGI Research and Yankelovich, Inc. conducted the Acuvue Advance I/EYE Health survey, which consisted of 2,040 Internet interviews including 1,020 adults 18-35 years of age (711 females and 309 males). Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. recently shared the following highlights from the survey:
ˇ More than 80% of adults said that their eyes felt at least somewhat tired by the end of the day because of contact lens problems or dry, red eyes
ˇ Computer strain is the number-one cause of eye strain, with nearly 80% of adults indicating discomfort.
ˇ Ninety-five percent of adults say it's very important to get a yearly eye exam, however only 70% actually get one on an annual basis.

ARBO Elects 2004-2005 Officers
The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) recently elected its new Board of Directors: Secretary-Treasurer Robert M. Easton, Jr., OD; President Janet L. Carter, OD; Vice President Robert W. Smalling, OD; Immediate Past President Russell W. Jones, OD; Director Christina M. Sorenson; and Director Robert L. Sorrel, OD. Drs. Jack E. Terry, Steven H. Eyler and Donovan L. Crouch are all continuing their role as members of ARBO's Board of Directors.

Abstract: Microdot Deposits in CL Wear
Researchers conducted a study of 36 myopic patients who had a 15- to 43-year history of hard, GP or soft hydrogel contact lens wear and 12 age-matched emmetropic or spectacle-corrected myopic volunteers. They sought to determine whether a relationship exists between the presence of microdot deposits within the corneal stroma of long-term contact lens wearers as seen by confocal microscopy and the contact lens wear time, material or other patient variables. The researchers determined the numerical density and size of microdot deposits within the anterior, mid-, and posterior stroma using a confocal microscope, and the data were subjected to multiple regression statistical analyses. Results showed microdot deposits throughout the entire depth of the corneal stroma in all contact lens wearers. No control subjects showed microdot deposits. Among the independent variables, soft contact lens wear time had the most profound influence on numerical microdot density and size in the statistical equations of this study.
Trittibach P, Cadez R, Eschmann R, et al. Determination of microdot stromal degenerations within corneas of long-term contact lens wearers by confocal microscopy. Eye & Contact Lens 2004 30(3):127-131.

Editor's Commentary: Ortho-k and Astigmatism
This past weekend, more than 400 eyecare practitioners met in Toronto at the Global Orthokeratology Symposium. Next week, we'll update you on what happened.

The July 2004 issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery had an interesting editorial regarding an article in that issue stating that overnight orthokeratology causes irregular astigmatism. They did find a statistically significant 0.12D of cylinder change and although they state there wasn't a significant change in higher-order aberration (refuted by two other studies of which I'm aware) they did find tilt (a form of aberration). Most skilled ortho-K fitters would refit a patient who has a decentered lens that caused tilt. Seems too that the low contrast visual acuity reductions they report are similar to LASIK and PRK in "20/happy" patients. I guess it's all in your perspective. Surgeons will be surgeons and ortho-K and CRT fitters will be as such.

Fitting Tip: Fitting Irregular Corneas
When trying to fit an eye that has an irregular cornea (which may have been caused by trauma, injury, corneal transplant, etc.), the first trial GP I usually reach for is an aspheric base curve lens such as the Boston Envision. I find that frequently this lens will center better and follow the contours of the eye a little bit better than a lens design that has a spherical base curve.
--Bruce Anderson, O.D.
Tampa, Fla.

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

Access a reporting form for complications you've seen that were a result of contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescription at the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO's) Web site: http://www.arbo.org/arbo.asp?dt=R&doc=Complications. Complete and send the form online or print it out and fax it to (866) 886-6164.

Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com -- if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free golf shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details). Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.

CLToday Services: Subscribe; Change or Remove your e-mail address; submit news to news@cltoday.com; or, fax 1-215-643-3902.