CONTACT LENSES TODAY

July 31, 2005

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.


Change in Medicare Guidelines for Cataracts
Thanks to a Medicare policy change in May, cataract patients have two choices for treatment. Patients can either receive a standard lens replacement, paid for in-full by Medicare up to $2,000, or upgrade to an intraocular lens that can correct presbyopia in addition to clearing the cataract. Medicare recipients will have to pay the difference in cost, but will be able to apply the credit of the standard lens to their total. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in people over the age of 65.

Help for Keratoconus Patients
Addition Technology, makers of Intacs, announces the creation of a non-profit organization to assist keratoconus sufferers. The Foundation for Keratoconus Care will provide financial support for patients who cannot afford treatment. A patient assistance program will counsel patients on their clinical options, including selection of primary and surgical eye care practices. The foundation will also award grants to support research into the disease. Addition Technology will also donate a percentage of Intacs’ proceeds to the foundation. For more information, visit http://www.KeratoconusCare.org.

British Newspaper Says All CLs The Same
A recent article in the Daily Mail newspaper in England recently ran a story that claimed extended wear contact lenses are the same as daily wear. The author contends all lenses are made from the same material, in the same proportions with fractional differences in diameter and curve, which has no bearing on whether a lens can be reused. The article further claimed that patients are being overcharged by manufacturers and recommends wearers could save money by switching to a less expensive daily disposable or simply cleaning and reusing their daily wear lenses.
The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) released a statement after publication. “Although it is factually correct to state that there is no physical property of daily disposables that limits their use to single day disposable wear, those who extend the wear schedule … will forgo the benefits of improved eye health, comfort, acuity and convenience benefits associated with daily disposable wear.” Read the full statement at http://www.bcla.org.uk.

ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM – Built for Speed, Designed for Vision & Comfort
The new Accelerated Stabilization Design of ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM makes the fitting process for astigmatic patients easier by reducing chair time. Because ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM was designed specifically to use the force of the blink to stabilize the lens, doctors can go from zero to fitting in 60 seconds. Once the lens is in place, every blink is a smooth interaction with the lens that maintains continuous stability throughout the day. This enhanced stabilization is the key to crisp, stable vision throughout daily activities.
ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM also features HYDRACLEAR™, which allows for a moist, smooth, and soft fitting silicone hydrogel lens that feels good all day long. http://www.ecp.acuvue.com

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Power Practice Increases Bench Strength
The Power Practice, a practice management consulting firm in Franklin Lakes, NJ, has expanded its staff and geographical area that it covers. Gary Gerber, O.D., president and founder of The Power Practice, announced the addition of Craig Steinberg, O.D., J.D., Director of Legal Services; Alan Homestead, O.D., Billing and Coding Specialist; Eric Karson, Pd.D., Director of Strategic Marketing and Research; and associate consultants Eric Bran, O.D., Chad Gallatin, O.D. and Matthew Schwartz. The Power Practice has increased revenues 38% in the last six months and expanded to service practices in virtually every reason of the country.

J&J Becomes 2008 Olympics Partner
Johnson and Johnson is now an official partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Official Health Care Products Sponsor of the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and the Official Health Care Products Partner of the United States Olympic Committee. The company sees this as a reaffirmation of its commitment to China and hopes to contribute to the success of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralymic Games through its health care experience.

Abstract: Refractive Corrections for Military Flight Crew
Refractive devices used by aviators need to suit the aerospace environment or their failure can have serious implications. A relatively minor visual disability can result in loss of life and aircraft. Researchers at the Royal Centre for Defense Medicine and the University and Selly Oak Hospitals Birmingham surveyed members of the Royal Air Force aircrew about commonly occurring problems with refractive correction. They questioned 700 active aircrew who require corrective flying spectacles or contact lenses for flying. Of the 443 respondents, 53% wore contact lenses, with 71% in daily disposable, and 47% wore spectacles, 14% of whom wore multifocal lenses. Among the spectacle group, 83% reported problems including misting, moving, discomfort and conflict with helmet-mounted devices. Contact lenses-related ocular symptoms were reported by 67% of wearers including cloudy vision, dry eye, photophobia, red eyes, excessive mucus formation, CL movement, itching and grittiness. However, no contact lens related flight safety incidents were reported versus 5% for spectacles. Vision, comfort, handling convenience and overall satisfaction were rated significantly higher for contact lenses than for spectacles. Researchers concluded that spectacles are associated with problems in comfort and safety and that contact lenses are well-tolerated by aircrew and deliver improved visual performance.
Partner AM, Scott RA, Shaw P, Coker WJ.
Contact lenses and corrective flying spectacles in military aircrew—implications for flight safety. Aviat Space Environ Med 2005 Jul;76(1):661-5.

Editor's Commentary: Contact Lenses Are Like Beans?
Our story from England reminded me of this topic. Over the years the pricing lenses based on how they are packaged has been an issue on and off. This has been the subject of not only controversy, but also legal action. One side of the argument claims that a lens is a lens is a lens and should always cost the same amount. On the other hand, it seems to me that if you buy 12 lenses instead of six, or even 60 instead of six, the cost per lens in the larger quantity can and should be less. When I buy coffee and beans or even spirits it's like that. Now, I know contact lenses are medical devices, but still, if shipping and packing larger quantities costs less, why can't the reduced cost be passed a long?

Correction
In last week’s edition of CLToday, the parameters for the new Renovation lens from Art Optical were listed incorrectly. The lens is available in powers of +2.25D and greater. CLToday regrets the error.

Fitting Tip: Keep A Current Prescription
I couldn't agree more fully with last week's "Editor's Commentary." I routinely ask my contact lens patients two questions regarding their glasses. First, can they drive legally with their glasses? Second, could (and would) they wear their glasses in public for between one and two weeks if they ever experienced an eye infection? If patients cannot answer, "yes" to both of these questions, it's time for updated glasses. I also stress to contact lens wearers that everyone with refractive error wears glasses at least some of the time. Some patients choose to wear contact lenses in addition to spectacles, but contacts cannot completely substitute a current, stylish pair of glasses.
Muriel Schornack, O.D.,
Rochester, NY


This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, review the daily wear performance of silicone hydrogels; read the results of contact angle analysis of lens wettability; and scan a synopsis of silicone hydrogels research at ARVO 2005.

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.

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