CONTACT LENSES TODAY

August 1, 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.

GOS is Smashing Success
Last weekend in Toronto, 620 people from 32 countries met at the Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS) to learn about basic, intermediate and advanced clinical practice methods and research relative to corneal reshaping. From central epithelial thinning with myopic corneal refractive treatment to epithelial thickening with hyperopic treatment to stromal changes to interpretation of corneal topography to John Mountford's new book, the attendees found the 2004 version of GOS as exciting as the first 2002 meeting. Stuart Grant received the GOS Founders Award for his pioneering work in orthokeratology. GOS is sponsored by Contact Lens Spectrum and Boucher Communications' Healthcare Conference Group.
Federal Trade Commission CL Rule to Take Effect
The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) Contact Lens Rule implementing the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) will take full effect this week. The FTC rule, officially called the "Contact Lens Rule," adheres to the FCLCA, as is legally required for all rules authorized by a controlling statute. It covers 11 sections and requires eyecare providers to release a contact lens prescription to patients -- even if they don't ask for it; prohibits contact lens sellers from altering the prescriber's prescription in any respect; allows eyecare providers to place the quantity of lenses and refills on the prescription itself; and more. For details, visit http://www.aoanet.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?site=AOAstage&WebCode=HTFCLCAInEffect.
Hall of Fame Set to Induct Six at Upcoming Conference
The National Optometry Hall of Fame recently announced its intentions of inducting six new members during ceremonies on October 14, 2004 at the EastWest Eye Conference in Cleveland. The 2004 inductees are: Anthony J. Adams, OD, PhD, dean emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley; Jimmy Bartlett, OD, DOS, ScD, prominent educator and researcher in ophthalmic pharmacology; Irving Bennett, OD, well-known demographer of economic data; Joan Exfort, OD, first woman president of the American Academy of Optometry; and Melvin Wolfberg, OD, who served as president of the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. The National Optometry Hall of Fame will induct Frank Brazelton, OD, posthumously.
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*Data on file
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B&L Approved to Market Boston Ortho-k Lens
Bausch & Lomb's oprifocon A Boston Equalens II GP lens material is now available for ortho-k treatment. Over the next few months, the company intends to expand distribution of the lens material to other Boston authorized manufacturers to coincide with the early fall commercial launch of the lens material to U.S. eyecare practitioners.
Agreement Allows AMO to Sell Complete Aquavision in Europe and Asia Pacific
Under the terms of an agreement with CooperVision Limited, Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO) will sell Complete Aquavision monthly HEMA/GMA hydrogel contact lenses in Europe and in selected Asia Pacific markets. According to AMO, the contact lens provides superior comfort through its ability to retain water, incorporating advanced moisture-providing constituents compatible with those found in AMO's Complete line of eyecare solutions.
InSite to Move Forward with AzaSite
InSite Vision Incorporated has initiated two Phase III pivotal studies for its lead drug candidate, AzaSite (formerly ISV-401), to demonstrate both safety and efficacy for treating acute bacterial conjunctivitis. The company's drug pairs the antibiotic azithromycin with its proprietary, patented drug-delivery vehicle, DuraSite. Two Phase III multi-center vehicle-control studies will be conducted across the United States and will include more than 1,325 patients with confirmed culture positive acute bacterial conjunctivitis in at least one eye.
Abstract: Determining Patients' Sun Damage Knowledge
Researchers in New York surveyed 100 individuals wearing some combination of contact lenses and spectacles to determine the difference in wearing patterns of sunglass and/or photochromic lenses in spectacle and contact lens wearers. They also aimed to assess patient awareness of the indications for the use of tinted lenses and to identify wearers' lens tint preference. In the spectacle group, which consisted of 52% of the participants, 36% and 20% wore sunglasses and photochromic lenses, respectively. In the contact lens group, which consisted of 48% of participants who wore some combination of spectacles and contact lenses, 20% and 10% wore sunglasses and photochromic lenses, respectively. Overall, the participants preferred gray tint and cited summer as the primary reason for using tinted lenses. The researchers concluded that spectacle and contact lens wearers used sunglasses more than they used photochromic lenses (P = 0.004) and that they didn't appreciate the potentially adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure to the eye and the importance of proper UVR eye protection.
Glavas IP, Patel S, Donsoff I, Stenson S. Sunglasses - and Photochromic Lens-Wearing Patterns in Spectacle and/or Contact Lens-Wearing Individuals. Eye & Contact Lens 2004 Apr;30(2):81-84.
Editor's Commentary: Patients Don't Need Plano for Happiness
Dr. Stuart Grant reminded me during our successful Global Orthokeratology Symposium (GOS) meeting in Toronto last weekend that those practitioners, manufacturers and laboratories in attendance needed to think about the vast additional pool of patients who are interested in contact lens corneal reshaping. These aren't the people who can get to plano or +0.50D sphere after overnight wear, but rather the vast number of typically higher myopes who are thrilled to go from being a -5.00D myope to a -1.00D (or thereabouts). They may sleep in their lenses and/or wear them in the daytime to keep their corneas in a state that allows them to have functional vision for nonacute vision tasks and to avoid the debilitating vision associated with their full refractive error. They can function at the pool or around the house without wearing glasses or contact lenses full time. Plano isn't the only end point to have happier patients with orthokeratology. Someone should do a study of these patients and measure their visual quality of life.
Fitting Tip: Soapy Vision
Most GP patients at some point experience a filminess or haziness of vision. Frequently, this is attributed to either a poor material or an improper fit. This may also consume an enormous amount of chair time with lengthy Q & A and subsequent explanations. The most frequent cause is the use of a lanolin or moisturized soap for hand washing just before application. By having the patient use a nonmoisturized soap such as Purpose, Clinique or even dish washing detergent just before lens application, patients will be able to dramatically reduce the filminess upon application. It is also helpful to ask patients if they clean their lenses in the evening or in the morning. Because less handling is preferred in the morning, ask patients to clean their lenses in the evening, upon removal. This small change will bring dramatic improvements on surface clarity.
--Bob Grohe, OD
Homewood, Ill.
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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