CONTACT LENSES TODAY
August 13, 2006
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more
than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.
FTC Files First Complaint Under FCLCA
On August 7, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed charges against Walsh Optical Inc. and its owner Kevin Walsh for violating the
Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) of 2003 and the Contact Rule of 2004. Walsh Optical operates three Web sites that sell contact lenses directly to
consumers: http://www.lensworld.com,
http://www.contactmania.com and
http://www.contactlensworld.com. The FTC alleges that the sites failed to verify consumers’ prescriptions. The FCLCA
requires that sellers either obtain a copy of the prescription or directly verify it with the prescriber before selling contact lenses to consumers. The company is
settling charges and will pay $40,000 in civil penalties. The settlement contains provisions that allow the FTC to monitor compliance. The FTC says the company will be
prohibited from violating the Contact Lens Rule in the future. The complaint and proposed order were filed at the FTC’s request by the Department of Justice in the U.S.
District Court for the District of New Jersey, and are available on the FTC’s Web site.
AOA Survey Shows Adults Lack Eyecare Knowledge
The American Optometric Association’s first American Eye-Q survey found parents lack important knowledge about eye health and vision care.
In terms of their children, 44% of parents didn’t know that behavioral problems could be an indication that a child’s vision is impaired. And, only one in 10 adhere to the
AOA’s recommendation that infants have an eye exam before their first birthday; nearly one-third of all children have never had a full eye exam.
The survey also
revealed parents need to take better care of their own eyes. Among Americans who do not wear glasses or contact lenses, 62% haven’t been to an eye care professional in the
last two years. What’s more, nearly 20% have never been to an eye doctor. More than 60% of adults surveyed knew that an eye exam could detect diabetes and hypertension, but
only 23% knew an exam could identify symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Parents also have some common misperceptions about eye and vision health. More than eight of 10
believe that sitting too close to the T.V. and reading under dim lighting will affect vision. In addition, 70% of Americans mistakenly believe carrots are the best food
for eye health. According to the AOA, eating the equivalent of half a cup of cooked spinach four to seven times a week can help protect against AMD. It would take four
pounds of carrots or 17 cups of iceberg lettuce to meet the same goal.
Real-world feedback from eye care professionals now supports pre-launch claims of ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact Lenses for
ASTIGMATISM.
When compared to Soflens66® Toric, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM clearly provides more predictable orientation and crisper,
more stable vision; the advantage comes from the Accelerated Stabilization Design. Less lid interaction leads to superior performance versus the traditional prism-ballast
design such as found in Soflens66® Toric. Also, because of HYDRACLEAR™ Technology, the lens delivers significantly better comfort both upon insertion and at the
end of the day.
--ADVERTISING
Global Keratoconus Congress Accepting Submissions
The Educational Program Committee of the Global Keratoconus Congress invites the submission of abstracts for the Free Papers and Scientific
Posters Competition to be held January 26-28, 2007 in Las Vegas. Papers and Posters related to keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related
irregular corneal surface, gas permeable lens and lens care topics are welcome. Please visit www.gkc2007.com for information.
Additionally,
the Global Keratoconus Congress is pleased to announce that registration is open for attendees. The website has been updated to include hotel information and a preliminary
agenda as well as registration information. Please visit www.gkc2007.com for information and to register.
--ADVERTISING
Abstract:
Contact Lens Wear A Risk Factor for Fungal Keratitis?
Researchers at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute recently conducted a retrospective review of microbiology records of
culture-positive fungal keratitis cases from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2005. They found recovery of fungal pathogens among contact lens wearers increased from 26.7% of isolates
(eight of 30) to 50% (18 of 36) in 2005. Fusarium species were the most frequent fungal pathogens. The authors also found soft contact lens wear among the
Fusarium cases
more than doubled (seven of 30, or 23.3% vs. 17 of 36, or 47.7%) from 2004 to 2005. They conclude that contact lens wear may be a risk factor in fungal keratitis.
Alfonso EC, Miller D, Cantu-Dibildox J, O’Brian TP, Schein OD. Fungal keratitis associated with non-therapeutic soft contact
lenses. Am J Ophthalmol. 2006 Jul;142(1):154-5.
Editor's Commentary:
Value of Our Services
You’ve probably seen or heard this phrase before from colleagues too many to mention. I usually try to make my messages ecumenical, i.e.,
common to all of the Os. But in this case, my comment is about optometry and how many of us often train our students. Many, if not most, of us were trained in settings
where fees were secondary (or far worse) and education was paramount. There’s nothing wrong with that. But when students see that we do not assess proper legal coding and
billing fees consistently, what habits and philosophies do they adopt? Optometry and its educators need to make sure that we instill in our trainees the concept that the
services we provide are extremely valuable — just as the services of a great M.D. or great restaurateur. If the contact lens field is to succeed, we must optimize fees
for contact lens services, minimize material fees, and, most importantly, properly code services for 3rd party reimbursement for important contact lens-related and other
decision-making.
Fitting Tip:
Repetition is Key
As recent events have shown, the need to educate our patients of the importance of keeping their contact lens cases clean is more vital than
ever. To help remind patients, we provide a fresh case at every visit and caution them not to save all their old cases. In addition, we direct them to replace their case
at least every time they open a new box of lenses.
Repetition is the key. The more we talk to patients about this crucial issue, the more likely they will be to respect
its significance.
Lawrence A. Rand, O.D.,
Lemoyne, Pa.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org/, get an update of silicone hydrogels at ARVO 2006 and
review ‘oxygen flux‚’ as well as the cornea’s response to different levels of oxygen transmissibility.
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 and issue
archives. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips.
CLToday Services: Subscribe; Change or Remove your e-mail
address; submit news to news@cltoday.com; or, fax 1-215-643-3902.