New research reveals that nearly half those surveyed (44%) share the misguided belief that seeing well translates to good eye health. Gaps in vision care attitudes and behavior are a recurrent theme throughout Global Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care, a new survey conducted on behalf of The Vision Care Institute, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company. More than 6,500 adults from Australia, Brazil, China, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States were surveyed to better understand the incidence, practice and perception of eye exams for adults and children around the world.
     Eight-in-ten respondents (79%) believe that improving their vision will impact their enjoyment of life. More than seven-in-ten respondents (72%) say that improving their vision will also help them feel better about themselves and give them more confidence. Parents/caregivers around the world strongly believe that improving their children's vision would have comparatively more of an impact on their children's lives than their own.
     Despite these reported beliefs, however, only half (54%) of survey participants have ever had a comprehensive eye exam. More than one-in-three parents/caregivers have never taken their child under 18 years of age for any type of vision assessment.
     While the findings are in part driven by differences in health care systems, economic development and regulatory environments, these fluctuating rates are further magnified by a lack of knowledge about comprehensive eye exams and insufficient attention paid to eye health.
     Among respondents who say they do not intend to have an eye exam in the next 12 months, the most common reasons cited were "haven't really thought about it" (34%), "no perceived vision issues" (30%), and "vision isn't bad enough to warrant going for an exam" (26%). Cost does not appear to be a significant barrier. Globally, only 10% of those who say they do not intend to have an eye exam in the next year cite not being able to afford an exam as a reason not to have one. In the United States, however, this number jumps to 27%. 
     To view the Executive Summary, including key findings by country, visit www.thevisioncareinstitute.com/globalsurvey.

VSP Vision Care and Prevent Blindness America announced the results of their joint nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 participants. The study revealed more than one in five 12 to 17-year-olds have difficulty seeing the classroom whiteboard/chalkboard, with more than one in four complaining of headaches. These complaints are noted even though nearly half (45 percent) of the children in this age group reported wearing some type of prescription eyewear.
     "The survey provides a clear example of why regular eye exams are so important as children progress in school." said Gary Brooks, VSP Vision Care President. "Most parents probably assume once a prescription is given, there isn't a need for further follow up. However, the survey results reinforce the need for regular eye exams as kids' eyes continue to change and adapt."
     Additional findings of the survey show that: almost two-thirds (66 percent) of children under the age of six have never had an eye exam by an eye doctor and one in four 6 to 11-year-olds wears prescription glasses.
     As part of Children's Eye Health and Safety Month in August, VSP and Prevent Blindness America hope to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of vision care and encourage them to make their children's eye health a priority.

Your practice thrives when your patients are healthy and happy-and ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus can help you fulfill this goal, by providing exceptional comfort, vision, and health. It's a fact: 9 out of 10 patients stay in ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand.¹ So when you fit your patients with ACUVUE® OASYS™, you're laying a solid foundation of patient commitment and satisfaction leading to practice growth.

1. Data on file. Johnson & Johnson, 2008.
     ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting jnjvisioncare.com.
     HYDRACLEAR® Plus is our brand name for the next generation of our proprietary technology that allows us to use a higher volume of a moisture rich wetting agent in a state of the art formulation. This creates a more wettable, ultra smooth contact lens, especially for challenging environments that make eyes feel dry.
     ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® OASYS™, HYDRACLEAR®, and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2009.

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The Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI), in association with The Contact Lens Manufacturers Association, announces their schedule of live online symposia for the rest of 2009. During these 90 minute symposia, contact lens fitters can communicate with industry experts. The sessions are held on Tuesdays at 9 PM Eastern Time. The first hour of discussion is limited to the topic of month; however, attendees may ask any GP lens-related question during the remaining 30 minutes. For most scheduled symposia, case histories are posted on the GPLI website prior to the discussion. All eye care professionals are invited to participate. 
     The topics and hosts for the remaining 2009 symposia are:
August 11 - GP Multifocal Correction with Dr. Rob Davis and Dr. Doug Benoit
October 13 - GP Correction of Keratoconus with Mr. Mike Ward and Dr. Ann Laurenzi
December 8 - GP Problem Solving with Dr. Pat Keech and Dr. Ken Maller
     For more information on these symposia and other educational programs offered by the GPLI, visit www.gpli.info.

Optometrists across the United States and around the globe are being invited to take part in this year's World Sight Day Challenge to help raise funds and awareness for programs that ensure vision care for people in countries without access to even basic eye care services. This year's theme is enhancing vision care for women. According to VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, women and girls make up two-thirds of all blind people. In many countries this is due to traditional social, economic and political structures and customs that favor men.
     Coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight, the World Sight Day Challenge is an annual fundraising campaign that invites the optometry profession to raise funds for people who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam and glasses. Optometrists can help transform the people's lives by making a donation to Optometry Giving Sight on or around World Sight Day, October 8, 2009. Many Optometrists choose to do this by donating their eye exam fees for a day in October, making a personal or practice contribution, and/or encouraging staff and patients to give the gift of sight to those without access to even basic eye care services.
     For more information or to register to take the World Sight Day Challenge, go to www.givingsight.org or call 1 888 OGS-GIVE. You will receive a free kit with World Sight Day Challenge materials that contains everything you need to create a great practice and community event.

The Educational Program Committee of the Global Specialty Lens Symposium invites the submission of abstracts for the Free Paper Section to be held January 28-31, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Papers related to presbyopia, keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, myopia control, ortho-k and lens care topics are welcome.
     Those interested in submitting free papers or posters to the Global Specialty Lens Symposium can visit www.GSLSymposium.com for more information. Web submissions only. Deadline for submissions is Monday, August 31, 2009. 

--ADVERTISING

Compulink Business Systems has announced the launch of two new products, Eyecare Advantage Essentials and E-Rx. According to the company, these products allow eye care professionals to make the switch to EHR and incorporate electronic drug prescription with complete integration, which avoids double-entry that other products require. Implementation of these products also enables practices to become eligible for financial incentives under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provisions of the ARRA legislation, according to the company.
     Designed for small and budget constrained practices, Essentials provides all of the features of Compulink's Eyecare Advantage and Ophthalmology Advantage products, minus the ability to customize. Starting at $3,000, Essentials is available at a much lower entry price than comparable solutions. Essentials users who require customization can upgrade to the more advanced Advantage systems at anytime.
     E-Rx, offered as an option to Essentials and the Advantage line, enables providers to submit prescriptions electronically and provides comprehensive clinical information on every drug approved by the FDA. In addition to reducing prescribing errors and simplifying the prescribing process, the company says that E-Rx also enables providers to qualify for an additional 2% Medicare annual reimbursement amount. E-Rx pricing starts at $35/month per provider.
     For more information about Compulink and the HITECH Act go to: www.compulink-software.com.

Dry eye disease is a common condition that affects millions of people world wide. The common findings of dry eye disease are blurred vision and tear film instability. The purpose of this study was to determine if long-term use of artificial tears altered visual disturbances and tear film instability of dry eye patients.
     Contrast sensitivity and optical aberrations were measured in 22 dry eye and 10 normal patients before and after daily use of artificial tears. The contrast sensitivity and optical aberrations were measured in response to the administration of a single drop of artificial tear placed in the eye.
     The short-term effect (i.e., a few minutes) of a single drop of artificial tear placed in the eye was a decrease in contrast sensitivity and an increase in optical aberrations. Long-term daily use of the artificial tears (i.e., up to 2 weeks) resulted in less of a short-term effect in dry eye patients. No long-term effect was observed for normal subjects. Both contrast sensitivity loss and optical aberrations decreased by 35% per week of artificial tear use for the dry eye patients suggesting that the changes in contrast sensitivity were the result of optical aberrations.
     The researchers concluded that the results suggest that the changes in contrast sensitivity with artificial tear administration were the result of optical aberrations. It appears that long-term use of artificial tears may normalize the tear layer of dry eye disease patients.
Ridder WH, 3rd, Lamotte J, Hall JQ, Jr., Sinn R, Nguyen AL, Abufarie L. Contrast Sensitivity and Tear Layer Aberrometry in Dry Eye Patients. Optom Vis Sci 2009.  

Being involved in contact lens research is an amazing experience, but also bears an awesome responsibility. It is easy for those involved in research to follow an agenda that does not necessarily meet the needs of the clinical community. My question to you is two-fold. First, is current contact lens research generally meeting in-the-trenches clinical needs? And second, what are the most important clinical questions that should be addressed by the research community? Take a minute to drop me a short note at tips@CLtoday.com and I will try to summarize the responses in the next few weeks for you.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: adverse events with daily wear of silicone hydrogels, SEALs with extended wear, controlling case contamination, contact lens complications, and part two of our AAO 2008 synopsis.