A United States district court has ordered Ocular Insight, Inc., to stop making certain claims about its Clear 58 contact lenses. The New York court said Ocular Insight must permanently discontinue stating or communicating in any of its advertising or promotional materials that the company's Clear 58 contact lenses are approved by the FDA as a generic equivalent lens to Vistakon's Acuvue 2 contact lenses; that Clear 58 is an exact duplicate or is identical to Acuvue 2; that Clear 58 is approved by the FDA; and that Clear 58 is a generic equivalent to Acuvue 2. The ruling was in response to a complaint filed in July 2008 by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
     "Contact lens design and the manufacturing process are two key factors that differentiate contact lenses," said Naomi Kelman, president, Americas, Vistakon. "The proprietary lens design and manufacturing process of all Acuvue Brand Contact Lenses are unique. In many cases, these differences in design and manufacture distinguish them from other contact lenses in areas such as comfort, eye health and vision."
     Mark Levin, president, Ocular Insight, Inc., said the company amended the claims once it received initial notice from Johnson & Johnson. He said the company "chose not to spend significant resources" fighting the claims. "Instead, we are determined to concentrate our resources on introducing safe and efficacious contact lenses to the ophthalmic community at price points designed to convert their low margin contact lens practice to a high margin practice."

Bausch & Lomb has named former Contact Lenses Today Editor Carla Mack, O.D., M.B.A., FAAO, as director, Medical Affairs, Global Vision Care.
     In this newly created position, Dr. Mack will contribute to internal and external clinical research, integrated education for eyecare practitioners, and support for eyecare organizations and academic institutions.
     Dr. Mack joins B&L from The Ohio State University College of Optometry where she served as director of Clinic Services and associate professor of Clinical Optometry for the past five years. She also served as editor of Contact Lens Spectrum.

Athletes, teens, part-time wearers, and those who are solution-sensitive, suffer from allergies or frequently travel are all great 1·DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand Contact Lens candidates. All these patient types and more can benefit from the long lasting comfort of LACREON technology, the convenience of fresh lenses every day and the protection of Class II UV blocking.* Improve the quality of life for more patients by prescribing 1·DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand. To learn more, go to:
*Important Product and UV Information | Important Safety Information
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CooperVision has added a new patient video to CooperVision.tv titled "Avaira with Aquaform technology: Contact lenses drenched in comfort." The video describes the benefits of CooperVisions Avaira two-week silicone hydrogel lenses, which were introduced in April 2008 and use CooperVisions Aquaform technology.
     In addition to this offering, CooperVision.tv features other videos about contact lens wear and care; multifocal contact lenses; contact lenses for the emerging presbyope; Biofinity with Aquaform technology; and PC Technology, as used in CooperVisions PC Hydrogel lenses.
     Practitioners can access CooperVision.tv directly or via the secure Web site reserved for practitioners on www.coopervision.com.

The Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) and Optometry Giving Sight announced that Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle proclaimed Oct. 9 as World Sight Day in Wisconsin.  
     World Sight Day is a global event that seeks to bring awareness and action to the elimination of avoidable blindness by the year 2020. Each year, Optometry Giving Sight issues its World Sight Day Challenge and asks O.D.s to donate exam fees, make a regular donation and plan a practice celebration in order to raise funds for projects that provide vision care, local training and infrastructure support for people in countries where such services don't currently exist.
     For more information about Optometry Giving Sight and the World Sight Day Challenge visit www.givingsight.org. For more information about the Wisconsin Optometric Association, visit www.woa-eyes.org

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.   
     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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The primary goal of this study was to evaluate if there is a difference in frequency and in completeness of eye blinks (type of eye blink) in GP lens wearers experiencing 3- and 9-o'clock staining compared with GP lens wearers without substantial staining and non-lens wearers.
     The study involved 26 non-lens wearers and 55 GP lens wearers, with and without 3- and 9-o'clock staining. Every eye blink over a five-minute period was categorized as a complete eye blink, incomplete eye blink, or an eye blink attempt. In addition, type of lens fit (interpalpebral vs. lid attachment), lens-to-cornea fit (flat vs. steep), spherical equivalent of the refraction, and corneal coverage (on-eye lens diameter) were analyzed.
     No difference in overall eye blink frequency was found between non-lens wearers (group I, n = 26), GP lens wearers with less than grade 1 corneal staining (group II, n=25) and GP lens wearers with grade 1 or more corneal staining (group III, n = 30). Fewer complete eye blinks, more incomplete eye blinks and more eye blink attempts were seen in group III than in group I or II (p < 0.01, p = 0.03, p < 0.01, respectively). Fewer complete eye blinks and more eye blink attempts (p < 0.01 for both) were found in interpalpebral lens fits than in lid attachment fits. Fewer complete eye blinks (p = 0.02) and more incomplete eye blinks (p = 0.03) were found with lenses rated as large or optimal in size than with lenses rated as small.
     The authors concluded that GP lens wearers experiencing 3- and 9-o'clock staining showed a different eye blink frequency for individual types of eye blinks, but not for overall eye blinks. Fewer complete eye blinks, more incomplete eye blinks, and more eye blink attempts were observed in GP wearers with 3- and 9-o'clock staining compared with wearers with minimal staining and non-wearers. In addition, some individual contact lens variables were associated with more incomplete eye blinks.
Van Der Worp E, De Brabander J, Swarbrick H, Hendrikse F. Eye Blink Frequency and Type in Relation to 3- and 9-O'Clock Staining and Gas Permeable Contact Lens Variables. Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Sep;85(9):E857-66.

As we know clinically, meibomian gland disease and associated conditions such as blepharitis are frequent in our patient populations. Interestingly, we do not have good epidemiological data on the actual prevalence of these conditions. We think that these conditions may be particularly high in our contact lens wearers, contributing to the frequent complaints of dryness and discomfort. How are you and your colleagues addressing this problem clinically? How often and what ways are you using to evaluate the lid margins and meibomian glands? Do you evaluate lipid expression? Are you routinely using the traditional management methods of warm compresses and lid hygiene? New pharmaceuticals are being targeted for the treatment of lid disease and early trends are thought provoking. Hopefully with this, and other forthcoming treatments, we will be able to provide more relief for this burning problem. Please share your comments with me and continue to send your thoughts, feedback, and tips to tips@CLtoday.com.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

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