Vistakon announced the launch of its Acuminder Facebook application (www.acuminder.com/facebook). This newest iteration of the company's free online Acuminder contact lens compliance service expands its functionality into a multipurpose lifestyle tool available to Facebook's 80 million active users. 
     Acuminder was introduced last year as a complimentary online service designed to help improve contact lens compliance and eye health for contact lens wearers. Now available as a Facebook application, Acuminder users can receive reminder messages via e-mail and/or alerts in their Facebook newsfeed. In addition to helping consumers with contact lens compliance, Acuminder Facebook reminders can pertain to just about anything, including taking daily medications, doctors' visits, work deadlines, important social events and more. Reminders also can easily be sent to other Facebook users
     Contact lens wearers who do not use Facebook can still register for the free service at www.acuminder.com and elect to receive an automatic reminder about changing or ordering new contact lenses via e-mail, cell phone text message, and/or a computer desktop prompt. In its first year, more than 11,000 contact lens wearers signed up. According to the company, in a January 2008 survey, bi-weekly contact lens wearers reported a marked improvement in their contact lens replacement compliance; the average number of days between lens changes decreased from 19 days to 15 days.

Bausch & Lomb (B&L) extends its commitment to raising awareness for breast cancer this fall by creating 40 limited edition pink Crystallized Swarovski Elements contact lens cases. These will be given away exclusively online at www.ReNuCares.com during October, Breast Cancer Awareness month.
     Crystallized is a brand synonymous with luxury style and innovative design as well as a strong commitment to philanthropy. The limited edition contact lens cases are created with 646 hand-applied crystal components and feature the hallmark Susan G. Komen for the Cure ribbon. Each case has a retail value of approximately $350.
     B&L's online giveaway contest launched September 2, 2008, at www.ReNuCares.com. The contest ends October 31, 2008. Visitors who download a coupon for ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution will be automatically entered to win one of the limited edition Crystallized contact lens cases. No purchase is necessary to be entered to win. B&L will notify winners by November 15, 2008.
     B&L will also donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every coupon that is redeemed at a retail store. The Crystallized contact lens case giveaway supplements the two-year partnership B&L has established with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This year, B&L has committed to raise up to $400,000, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $300,000, for the organization through sales of its ReNu MultiPlus solution and its online campaign.

Now is the perfect time to fit more of your patients in ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort and Class 1 UV blocking* for great protection against UV rays. To learn more about our innovations in comfort, vision and health, go to:
*Product and UV Information   
 Important Safety Information
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Early-registration discounts for the inaugural ABO-NCLE National Education Conference are available through September 12. The event, which runs September 19-21, offers more than 150 hours of ABO-NCLE approved optical and contact-lens training and education over four days, designed to improve opticians' technical, professional, managerial and personal performance.
     The weekend will also offer review classes for both the ABO and NCLE basic and advanced exams, with the corresponding certification examinations offered on-site. An Optical Showcase exhibit hall will highlight new products and demonstrations in the optical and CL fields. The conference and location coincide with the Opticians Association of America's 2008 National Opticians Convention, September 18-20.
     Information and registration links are at http://www.abo-ncle-conference.com.

A recent nationwide survey of nearly 4,000 Americans by VSP Vision Care revealed that more than three-quarters (76 percent) of children under the age of five have never had a comprehensive eye examination. The VSP Consumer Eyecare and Eyewear Survey was fielded in July 2008 by VSP Vision Care. There were 3,930 U.S. residents age 18 and older who participated. 
     The survey also revealed that most adults seem to give better protection to their eyes than their children's eyes. While 68 percent of adults wear sunglasses outdoors, less than 30 percent of children wear sunglasses outdoors. "While most people are becoming quite vigilant about using sunscreen to protect their skin, most parents may not realize that the sun's harmful rays can also severely damage their children's eyes," said James Short, OD, Chair of VSP Vision Care's board of directors.

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 submitting free papers or posters should note that the submission deadline has been extended to September 12, 2008. 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 sean.casey@wolterskluwer.com.
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Long established in the dental and medical industries, Smile Reminder has recently introduced its practice-to-patient communication tools into the eye care market, enabling eye care practitioners to reach patients, anytime, anywhere, in a personalized and relevant way. According to the company, Smile Reminder's patient messaging software system provides a secure and effective way for practices to directly communicate with patients by automatically sending text and/or email messages such as appointment reminders, birthday greetings, e-surveys and newsletters to returning patients and special promotions for new prospects. Messages are customizable and always include branding elements including a company's logo and photographs, contact information, doctor's signature and links to the practice's website.
     Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO) has listed them as one of their preferred vendors. "Smile Reminder was chosen as a partner because they provide practice building services to AMO customers," Heather Ready, Global Director of Business Development for AMO, said. "This effective solution will enable our customers to interact with their patients in a way that caters more to their lifestyles." For more information, visit www.smilereminder.com.

Imagine not being able to work or look after your family simply because you don't have access to an eye examination and a pair of glasses.
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In this study from Spain, researchers wanted to determine the levels of inflammatory molecules in the tears of patients who wore gas permeable (GP) contact lenses (CLs) and who had either keratoconus or myopia. A prospective, case-control study with four groups enrolled 20 GP CL keratoconus wearers, 28 keratoconus non-lens wearers, 20 myopic CL wearers, and 20 subjects with myopia that were non-lens wearers (1 eye per patient). Fifteen microliters of tears were collected by capillary flow. The concentration of cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha), cell adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM-1]), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
     The most significant differences associated with the wearing of GP CLs in patients with keratoconus were seen in increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, 23.7 vs. 6.4 pg/mL, P = 0.001; TNF-alpha, 21.3 vs. 3.8 pg/mL, P = 0.028) and cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, 32.8 vs. 7.7 ng/mL, P < 0.0001; VCAM-1, 57.4 vs. 29.3 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). In patients with myopia, increased levels of TNF-alpha (4.2 vs. 1.8 pg/mL, P < 0.0001) and MMP-9 (12.9 vs. 6.1 ng/mL, P < 0.0001) were associated with the wearing of GP CLs.
     The authors concluded that GP lens wear is associated with over-expression of IL-6, TNF-alpha, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in the tears of patients with keratoconus. These increased levels are higher in cases with severe keratoconus.
Lema I, Durn JA, Ruiz C, Dez-Feijoo E, Acera A, Merayo J. Inflammatory response to contact lenses in patients with keratoconus compared with myopic subjects. Cornea. 2008 Aug;27(7):758-63.

Over the past couple of weeks participants in the Keratoconus Link (bulletin board support group) have been relaying information relevant to the topic of lens life. Many of our patients are using soft contact lenses as the basis for a piggyback system. I, and several of my colleagues who sit as members of the Medical Advisory Board of the National Keratoconus Foundation, have been aghast to read submissions stating clearly that their fitters have advised continuous use for as long as a month of boxed single use daily disposable contact lenses as the basis for their piggybacking. Continuous means without removing them -- i.e. as in extended wear.  And, to boot, we cannot be talking about the daily wear silicone hydrogel that has just been released.
     We believe that these fitters have missed the boat in eye care by miles.  We are sorry that their patients are likely to be the losers and not the winners.
Bezalel Schendowich, OD, FIACLE
Jerusalem, Israel

Eye care practitioners are responsible for prescribing the type of lenses that best fit the patient's needs and the frequency of replacement. However, in making a recommendation for the most appropriate replacement frequency, doctors should factor in the company recommendation, lens claims and performance data, and individual patient needs.
     While the decision on the choice of lens and recommended replacement cycle ultimately belongs to the doctor, and doctors may in some cases prescribe a replacement frequency that differs from the company recommendation, it is our view that replacement schedules generally should not exceed those recommended by the manufacturer.
     According to the Americans' Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Vision Care Institute, LLC, about half of contact lens wearers always replace their contact lenses according to the recommended schedule, with younger wearers less likely to do so. So, by recommending that a patient extend wearing time of a 2-week lens to a month, there is a likelihood that some patients will extend wearing time further, possibly to six weeks or more, thus increasing the likelihood of increased discomfort and potential health problems, and ultimately dropping out of the category entirely. Doctors should frequently remind patients what they prescribed for them and the possible risks to their ocular health and comfort if they do not follow these instructions.
Sheila Hickson-Curran,
Director, Medical Affairs, Vistakon

Benjamin Franklin once said "When you're finished changing, you're finished." As you have read over the past few weeks, Dr. Carla Mack's professional activities are indeed changing, as she is pursuing exciting new endeavors. Dr. Mack has served both Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today in many ways over the past several years. I would like to ask that you please extend your warmest well-wishes to her as she ventures on to this new phase in her professional life. Thank you, Carla, for all that you have done for these publications, and more importantly, all that you have done for the profession. I am particularly thankful for all the help you have provided to ensure a smooth transition. We all look forward to seeing you continue to grow, challenge and change our field in the years to come.
     It is a great honor for me to accept these Editorial positions, and I am so very excited to be able to continue to provide you with timely, informative, provocative and comprehensive contact lens literature in the months and years to come. I also very much want to hear from you. Please continue to send your thoughts, feedback and tips to tips@CLtoday.com.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: multipurpose solutions, one- and two-step peroxide solutions and the effect of continuous wear on epithelial barrier function.