CONTACT LENSES TODAY

September 8, 2002

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches 8,809 readers in 74 countries.


VSP Arrangement with CIBA and OSI
VSP will launch a new contact lens initiative effective January 1, 2003. Highlights of the Member Contact Lens Program include preferred pricing for VSP patients on popular soft contact lenses from CIBA Vision and OSI when ordering an annual supply (doctors' professional fitting and evaluation fees aren't affected) and doctors can earn a $5 Partnership Plus payment for each annual supply of contact lenses provided to VSP members and submitted through eClaim.

LifeStyle to Take Over PuriLens Business
The LifeStyle Company has acquired assets of PuriLens, Inc. and will continue to manufacture and market the PuriLens Contact Lens Care System. The PuriLens System uses a compact electronic ultraviolet unit and a single, preservative-free solution to offer patients a simple way to clean and disinfect their lenses without the use of sufactants, chemicals, enzymes or heat according to the company. The LifeStyle Company is also currently honoring any outstanding PuriLens warranty and extended warranty issues.

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PureVision Patients Compensated
CIBA Vision recently introduced a new program to assist U.S. eyecare practitioners in transitioning patients who are wearing PureVision lenses into higher oxygen-transmissible, Focus Night & Day continuous wear lenses. The program is an effort to assist eyecare practitioners and patients affected by the June U.S. Federal Court ruling that Bausch & Lomb's PureVision lens infringes a CIBA Vision patent. Practitioners had up until the first of this month to participate in the Night & Day transition program and purchase a 100-unit or 250-unit Night & Day inventory and receive 50 or 125 patient refit credit certificates, respectively. The expiration date for redemption of the $25 mail-in certificates is January 31, 2003.

Viewing the World Through Computer Screen Glasses
According to the American Optometric Association, 70% to 75% of computer users suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS). But eyecare practitioners may soon have a new choice in their CVS treatment armamentarium -- near-eye displays, which are like eyeglasses with a built-in computer monitor. Participants in the Ohio State University study with the near-eye displays rated the comfort and performance of the devices as comparable to that of traditional computer monitors. However, "The problems with near-eye devices range from motion sickness to the device's weight to poor image resolution," admits James Sheedy, a study co-author, associate professor of optometry and director of the computer vision clinic at OSU. Will this proposed device prove to be a viable alternative to reading text from a traditional computer screen?

Abstract: Bitoric GP AND Soft Toric Piggy-Back!
A new technique is reported where a back surface toric soft contact lens 15.5 mm to 16 mm in diameter becomes bitoric on the keratoconus cornea. Order the bitoric GP lens with the data you gather from performing keratometry and overrefraction on the soft toric lens. Then specify the bitoric base curve toricity at 75% of the over-K toricity. Finally, determine the power of the GP toric lens based on these base curves and the overrefraction of the soft lens. To date, nine of the past 10 study participants observed reported improved comfort over a rigid lens alone.
Morrison RJ. Bitoric Rigid and Soft Contact Lenses Prescribed in Tandem for Keratoconus: Preliminary Results. Annals of Ophthalmology; 34(2):127-129 (2002).


Editor's Commentary: Further Deregulation Opinions
Two comments this week: Last week I said, "Oh sure, some manufacturer who wants more free enterprise may say that requiring a prescription is just a ploy to put money in practitioners' pockets." I was not referring to major manufacturers who hold most of the market share in the contact lens field. I am referring to companies who may own or have access to contact lens manufacturers. Indeed, the largest manufacturers in the United States have come out against cosmetic contact lens deregulation. I think most people agree that we don't need to deregulate cosmetic contact lenses and the reason has far more to do with public health than the economics, even though anyone would see the obvious economic implications.

Regarding our lead story this week and third parties encouraging the use of certain brands and having formularies, we always encourage your feedback. For example, what do you tell patients about such policies?


Fitting Tip: Discussing Disinfecting Regimens
How do you perform in-office disinfection of RGP diagnostic lenses? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends ophthalmic-grade hydrogen peroxide for RGP lenses (see below); therefore I use AOSept, AOSept Clear Care (CIBA Vision) or Ultracare (Allergan) for a 5- to 10-minute soak and store them dry. We also clean with Miraflow (CIBA Vision) before disinfection and before reinsertion during a diagnostic fit.

Miraflow is indicated for use as a cleaner for hard (PMMA) lenses, but many reports state its use for RGP lenses as well. The only precaution for its use on RGP lenses is that prolonged and repeated exposure may cause permanent parameter changes and brittleness from isopropyl alcohol. Use it for no more than a few seconds and then rinse it off.
-- Loretta B. Szczotka, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.
Reprinted from Contact Lens Spectrum.


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