CONTACT LENSES TODAY

September 22, 2002

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches 8,851 readers in 74 countries.

20/20 Recap
As we told you last week, ABC News ran a segment on teen-agers and cosmetic contact lenses on its "20/20" program. The coverage failed to mention the FDA's intention to deregulate these lenses in the plano prescription. It did, however, highlight the risks that teen-agers take when they buy and wear these lenses without a prescription or proper education on the black market. Dr. Thomas Steineman of the Cleveland Metro Health Medical Center warned about this dangerous trend and cited that at least 1,500 people wound up in emergency rooms last year from all types of contact lens problems. One reporter even demonstrated how some businesses are still selling these lenses and claiming that they weren't aware that the practice was illegal. Wrapping the segment up, Barbara Walters simply advised viewers to be careful and get a prescription if they want to change their eye color.

Dr. George Mertz Passes
George W. Mertz, O.D. M.S., current president of the American Optometric Foundation and director of Academic Professional services at Vistakon, died suddenly this past weekend. Previously employed by Bausch & Lomb and CIBA Vision, the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry graduate was known for his research and his love of optometry. He was a clinical researcher, professional servant, and many of us in the field who knew him thought of him as a wonderful, sincere and forthright friend. Our field has lost a great servant.

Oculus to Manufacture Rose K Lenses
Oculus, Ltd., has entered into an agreement with Rose K International, Ltd., to manufacture and sell keratoconus lenses under the Rose K design in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Indonesia. According to the company, the Rose K design has secured a 25 percent market share of the kerataconus lenses in the United States, adding that the partnership will leverage its existing manufacturing assets and improve the company's specialty product offerings.

The Beauty and Technology in Biomedics Colors -- The clinically proven Biomedics 55 design is now available in four popular colors -- blue, green, gray and hazel. Biomedics Colors offer your patients the most natural eye color without sacrificing comfort, vision or fit. Biomedics Colors are only sold to eyecare professionals. Call your Ocular Sciences Account Manager to get started today (877) 926-2800.
For more information visit: http://www.ocularsciences.com/Sight/static/main.jsp
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Soft Lenses That Deliver Glaucoma Drug
Researchers in Spain evaluated the loading capability of weakly crosslinked hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hydrogels with a view to their use as reloadable soft contact lenses for the administration of timolol. Hydrogels were prepared by dissolution of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA, 10 mM) in HEMA with or without methacrylic acid (MAA) or methyl methacrylate (MMA, 100 mM to 400 mM) and with or without timolol maleate (10mg/mL). The results indicate that the incorporation of MAA as comonomer increases the timolol loading capacity to therapeutically useful levels while retaining appropriate release characteristics.

Blanchard Improves on Existing GP Multifocal Lens
Blanchard Contact Lens, Inc., has introduced a second-generation aspheric multifocal, known as the ESSential Xtra, which, according to the company, is an improved design of its original ESSential RGP. The company claims that by using its proprietary "S-Form Technology," it has improved the lens aspheric posterior surface, created a larger distance optic, increased available add correction, minimized paracentral lens bearing and reduced axial edge lift.

Fitting Tip: Dean (Clements) and Bob's Laws of Contact Lenses
(with apologies to Jim Tannehil)
1. The best fitters get only the worst patients.
2. Minus three-diopter myopes are an endangered species.
3. Patient compliance is a nonsequitur, also known as the oxymoron law.
4. 20 percent of the patients consume 100% of your time: The other 80% take up the rest.
5. If a lost contact lens is to be found, it will be found only after you have received the replacement.
6. Corneal complications increase in direct proportion to the quality of the slit lamp used and the skill of the user (also known as the "Ignorance is Bliss" law).
-- Bob Lawner, FCLSA(H), ABO, NCLE(A), West Carollton, Ohio
Adapted from Contact Lens Spectrum

Abstract: Results with the Rose K Lens for Keratoconus
In a study of 20 keratoconus patients, 72% preferred Rose K over their previous lenses and 87% reported wanting to continue wearing them. Statistically significant vision and comfort was found with Rose K compared to the previously worn lenses. Placebo effect could not be ruled out. Betts AM, Mitchell GL and Zadnik, K. Visual Performance and Comfort with the Rose K Lens for Keratoconus. Optometry and Vision Science; 79(8):493-501 (2002).

Editor's Commentary: Thoughts on 20/20's Cosmetic Lens Coverage
I thought ABC's "20/20" program did a pretty good job of getting most of the facts straight on the risk of misuse of cosmetic contact lenses. I have always thought that the real potential growth of this field would depend upon these lenses being sold at cosmetic counters in department stores, but I had hoped that it would never happen without the patients ending up in the office of a licensed professional. The most frightening thing about the story was the teen-agers who were intereviewed and their blatant disregard for the risks of contact lens wear. You should assume that your teen-agers (and other age groups) will not comply and go about educating from there. Whenever we get a chance to educate people -- especially young people -- about eye safety, it is wise to talk about the importance of proper contact lens care whether they need an Rx or not.

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