There are currently more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older with cataracts. It is the number one age-related eye disease, with more cases than glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy combined. An updated study from Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute shows that eye disease diagnoses, including cataract, continue to rise and the World Health Organization states that, globally, cataract is the leading cause of blindness.
     Americans spend $6.8 billion every year on direct medical costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services for cataract, according to the 2007 "Economic Impact of Vision Problems: The Toll of Major Adult Eye Disorders, Visual Impairment, and Blindness on the U.S. Economy" study funded by Prevent Blindness America. Because of the aging U.S. population, it is projected that more than 30.1 million Americans will have cataracts by the year 2020.
     Every year on average, 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery, the most frequently performed surgery in the United States. Prevent Blindness America has designated August as Cataract Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the disease, risk factors and surgery options. They are also offering an educational brochure entitled "Your Guide to Cataract Surgery." The brochure is available free of charge at www.preventblindness.org or by calling 1-800-331-2020.

Valley Contax, a gas permeable contact lens manufacturing company located in Springfield, Oregon, announced the promotion of Josh Adams to Vice President. Prior to his promotion, Adams served as Laboratory Manager at Valley Contax for over ten years. He also provides contact lens consulting for eye care professionals.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development's (COVD) "August is Children's Vision and Learning Month" campaign is working to raise awareness about the important connection between vision and learning. According to the COVD, current research shows that vision problems afflict millions of American children and thereby impact their ability to learn:
   - One in four school-age children have vision problems, according to the American Foundation in Vision Awareness;
   - 18 million children will not have had eye examinations by a vision care professional prior to entering school;
   - 60 percent of students identified as "problem learners" have undetected vision problems, according to the American Optometric Association.
     "Vision disorders are one of the leading impediments to successful learning in children," said Dr. Drusilla Grant, Immediate Past President of the COVD. "Many vision problems go undetected because a child is told he or she has 20/20 vision and healthy eyes. This can be misleading because their visual skills like tracking, eye teaming, and focusing may not have been evaluated and this is really where the problem lies."
     The COVD is urging parents and teachers to make a comprehensive eye examination part of their preparations for the new school year and to look for the following indications that vision problems may be contributing to learning challenges of their children and students: frequent loss of place when reading, poor reading comprehension, sloppy handwriting, confusing similar looking words, failure to recognize the same word in sequential sentences, complaints of eyes hurting or headaches after reading, avoidance of close work (such as reading) and attention problems. For more information visit www.covd.org.

Research suggests that many toric contact lens wearers are not satisfied with their visual performance. Make your patients' experience satisfying with new ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM. The latest in toric lenses combines HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort with Accelerated Stabilization Design for crisp, clear vision. To learn more, go to jnjvisioncare.com. 
Important Safety Information
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The Texas Optometric Association (TOA) and the North Central States Optometric Council (NCSOC) have both named Optometry Giving Sight as their International Charity of Choice. The TOA represents over 1,400 optometrists. NCSOC represents optometrists in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  
      "We are proud to pledge our support," said Dr. Scott Ream, President of NCSOC. "We urge all State Associations to join NCSOC and designate Optometry Giving Sight as their International Charity of Choice and for individual optometrists to donate to this very worthy cause." Dr. Brian Blount, President of the TOA stated, "I am proud for the TOA to support Optometry Giving Sight and urge all my colleagues to join Optometry Giving Sight by making a regular monthly donation or joining the World Sight Day Challenge this October."
     Through the World Sight Day Challenge, Optometry Giving Sight invites all optometrists to donate their eye examination fees on World Sight Day (October 9, 2008) to help fund projects that will provide vision care, local training and infrastructure development in countries that lack basic eye care services. Optometrists can register for the Challenge at www.givingsight.org or by calling 1-888-OGS-GIVE.

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 caseys@lwwvisioncare.com.
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The aim of this study by researchers in Spain and Portugal was to, firstly, investigate whether silicone-hydrogel contact lenses (CL) are more or less susceptible to bacterial adhesion than conventional ones and, secondly, assess the influence of lens wear in the extent of bacterial adhesion. Four silicone-hydrogel CL (galyfilcon A, balafilcon A, lotrafilcon A, and lotrafilcon B) and one conventional hydrogel (etafilcon A) CL were tested.
     Bacterial adhesion experiments were performed on unworn and worn CL using the strain Staphylococcus epidermidis 9142. Worn lenses were obtained from a group of 31 subjects fitted with a silicone-hydrogel CL in one eye and a conventional hydrogel CL as contralateral pair. These lenses were used on a daily basis in combination with a multipurpose lens care solution. Adhesion assays were carried out in a parallel plate flow chamber, followed by image analysis. Hydrophobicity, roughness, and topography of the lenses surfaces were assessed through contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy.
     Unworn conventional and silicone-hydrogel CL were equally susceptible to bacterial adhesion of S. epidermidis. Conversely, worn conventional hydrogel (etafilcon A) were more prone to bacterial adhesion than worn silicone-hydrogel materials, which exhibited similar adhesion extents among them. The results also showed that the lens surface properties such as hydrophobicity, roughness, and surface topography changed during wear. The alteration of surface hydrophobicity of silicone and conventional hydrogel CL during wear had a great impact on lens bacterial adhesion susceptibility. Accordingly, balafilcon A becomes significantly less hydrophobic and less prone to bacterial adhesion after lens wear, whereas etafilcon A becomes more hydrophobic and also more susceptible to bacterial adhesion (p < 0.05).
     The researchers concluded that worn silicone-hydrogel galyfilcon A, balafilcon A, lotrafilcon A, and lotrafilcon B are equally prone to microbial adhesion of S. epidermidis and generally less susceptible than the conventional hydrogel.
Santos L, Rodrigues D, Lira M, Real Oliveira ME, Oliveira R, Vilar EY, Azeredo J. Bacterial adhesion to worn silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Jul;85(7):520-5.

This week one of my interns seemed surprised that her patient would be fitted in both gas permeable lenses for every day wear and also daily disposables for occasional wear (weekends, beach vacations, and sports). Shouldn't the patient just pick one material and go with it? No way! Many GP wearers wouldn't think of sacrificing the excellent vision they get from their GPs but would and do benefit from the option and convenience of occasional daily disposable soft lens wear.
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.