CONTACT LENSES TODAY

August 18, 2002

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches 8,738 readers in 74 countries.

Editor's Commentary: Ortho-k is HOT
The Global Orthokeratology Symposium in Toronto last weekend was a success that exceeded everyone's expectations. This comprehensive, leading-edge, 3-day event devoted exclusively to contact lens corneal reshaping, ortho-k and corneal refractive therapy had some amazing outcomes. About 375 people were registered (more than 400, including exhibitors) and nearly all of them attended every session through the end of the program. There was genuine enthusiasm for this modality and even the exhibitors were overwhelmed. Comments like "best-ever meeting" and a standing ovation for the meeting itself at the conclusion were remarkable. Thanks to all of the organizers, our publisher and the numerous GP lens manufacturers for this heartwarming experience.

For more important information from the Global Orthokeratology Symposium, see this week's Fitting Tip below.

Novelty Lenses Galore
Your patients can spice up football season and Halloween with new novelty lenses from CooperVision and CIBA Vision. CooperVision's NFL Crazy Lenses line, introduced last year, now includes all 32 NFL teams. The lenses mask a patient’s iris with his favorite team's logo. They're available in 0.50D steps from plano to -4.00D.

CIBA Vision has added zebra and black-out designs as well as X-Colors to its WildEyes line. X-Colors are solid-colored lenses available in dark blue, purple, yellow, gray, light blue, orange, green and royal blue.

CV ENCORE TORIC™: So Much More Than Just "Location, Location, Location." It's patient preference, parameter range and in-stock product availability. Recent studies show that 95% of patients prefer CV Encore Toric to the leading disposable toric. And with the addition of a –2.25D cylinder power and sphere powers from +6.00D to –8.00D, you can now fit more of your patients with the most advanced disposable toric. Plus, you’ll appreciate over 99% in-stock product availability. For more information on this outstanding toric lens, contact CooperVision at (800) 341-2020 or on the Web at http://www.coopervision.com.
--ADVERTISING

BCI and EyeFinity Promote Online CE
Boucher Communications, Inc. (BCI), publisher of Contact Lens Spectrum and other prominent eyecare magazines, and Eyefinity, the e-commerce subsidiary of Vision Service Plan, will jointly promote BCI's VisionCare CE to EyeFinity's base of more than 18,000 offices. VisionCare CE is a full-service, online continuing education program, offering eyecare professionals COPE-, ABO- and NCLE-approved courses.

In other news from Eyefinity, the company reports it will add Ocular Sciences, Inc., and CIBA Vision North America to its eyefinity.com Web site starting this fall.

New Company to Market LifeStyle GP
David J. Dougherty has purchased the patented LifeStyle GP Multifocal contact lens from the LifeStyle Co. of Morganville, N.J., and formed the LifeStyle GP Co. "We aim to promote the LifeStyle GP once again to bring it back to its former position of prominence in the market," says Dougherty, who intends to offer the lens in a wider variety of materials and colors.

Update on Treating Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Fully 85% of Acanthamoeba keratitis patients are contact lens wearers. Good lens care and hygiene is the best preventative, but once the infection takes hold, it's difficult to treat. Researchers in Britain report they've successfully prevented this infection in animals through oral immunization. They believe this may be the best way to reduce the incidence of infection in humans. Study results were reported in the August issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Fitting Tip: Fluorescein Assessment Critical for CRT
When assessing fluorescein patterns for contact lens corneal refractive therapy (CRT), look for the following:

Centration of the lens within 0.5 mm of pupil center

A minimum of 3.5 mm of central bearing

Edge clearance between 0.2 and 0.5 mm.
--Jerry Legerton, O.D., San Diego

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