CONTACT LENSES TODAY
September 25, 2005
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches
more than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.
FDA Approves Alcon’s AcrySof
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Alcon’s AcrySof Toric IOL for use in cataract patients with pre-existing
corneal astigmatism. The AcrySof lens incorporates an optical design that corrects for pre-existing astigmatism in cataract patients, which the company says results
in significant improvement in distance vision. Alcon is targeting launch of the lens to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and
Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) in March, 2006.
CLES 2006
The Contact Lens and Eyecare Symposium (CLES) 2006
education program and registration are now available online
at http://www.cles.info. New this year are four hands-on workshops that will help participants gain proficiency in a host of
contact lens fitting and prescribing issues. The meeting offers 80 hours of CE and will take place from Jan. 11-14, 2006 at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal
Orlando.
Wolters Kluwer Acquires Boucher Communications
Wolters Kluwer, a multi-national publisher and information services company, acquired Boucher Communications Inc. (BCI). BCI’s five
core trade journals offer clinical and practice management information and business strategies for the ophthalmic market. These include Eyecare Business,
Optometric Management, Contact Lens Spectrum, Ophthalmology Management and Retinal Physician, as well as CLToday. BCI’s Health Care Conference Group
owns and operates educational conferences and seminar for the vision care industry, including the renowned Global Orthokeratology Symposium. BCI also provides
online newsletters, customized communications programs and other electronic vision care products. Wolters Kluwer is a leading provider of information for professionals
and students in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry. BCI will become part of Wolters Kluwer Health’s Medical Research unit.
The Next Generation of Silicone Hydrogels
The latest advance in the ULTRA COMFORT SERIES™ offers comfort, vision and health to contact lens wearers. ACUVUE® OASYS™
Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus are made from a new lens material, senofilcon A, a proprietary formulation including a remarkable moisture-rich wetting
agent with no surface coating. ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses have excellent oxygen transmissibility, high volume of wetting agent and a smooth surface.
This breakthrough material creates a lens so moist and smooth that an eyelid glides effortlessly over it. Prescribing a lens that offers patients comfort in dry
environments that can make eyes feel tired and dry will keep them from dropping out of lens wear and increase patient satisfaction.
--ADVERTISING
Children’s Vision Act Increases Sponsorship
A total of 165 members of Congress have endorsed H.R. 2238, the Children’s Vision Improvement and Learning Readiness Act of 2005. Eighty
percent of the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC), a bipartisan coalition of
congressional members dedicated to stimulating policy on vision-related problems
and disabilities, has cosponsored the bill. If passed, the Act would set up a
competitive grant process to provide states with the resources to increase the
number of children that get the vision assessments and health care they need. To see whether your representative has endorsed the bill, go
to http://www.2020advocacy.com.
Eyefinity Enters Agreement with Professional Practice Systems
Eyefinity has entered into an agreement with Professional Practice Systems (PPS), Inc. to integrate Eyefinity’s web-based services with
PPS’s “OPTO” practice management software. Through the agreement, PPS users will have access to Eyefinity’s online tools and services such as VSP claim filing, product
ordering, lab services, online continuing education and practice management resources.
Abstract:
Over-the-Counter Decorative Contact Lenses
A group of researchers across the country examined the prevalence of adolescent use of cosmetic contact lenses obtained from unlicensed
providers. They surveyed 159 patients, 23% of whom wore decorative contact lenses. Participants reported they obtained the lenses from an unlicensed provider 51% of
the time. Investigators found twelve neophyte contact lens wearers were seen urgently for acute eye pain and redness after wearing plano decorative contact lenses.
None had been dispensed by an eye care professional. One patient required penetrating keratoplasty. Education about handling and care was strongly associated with
acquiring lenses from licensed providers. The researchers conclude unlicensed vendors are dispensing colored, noncorrective contact lenses without a prescription or
fitting, resulting in acute vision-threatening infections and inflammation in uniformed lens wearers
Steinman TL, Fletcher M, Bonny AE, et al.
Over-the-Counter Decorative Contact Lenses: Cosmetic or Medical Devices? A Case Series. Eye Contact Lens. 2005 Sep; 31(5):194-200.
Editor's Commentary:
Dispensing Free Samples
A few weeks ago someone mentioned the idea of giving free samples of new contact lens care products or OTC eye drops to neighbors
and friends. This could build your practice or increase patient loyalty. And, if you sell products, this may lead to increased sales.
I do not endorse this
practice as most solution and OTC manufacturers limit sampling more than they have in the past due to its high cost. Samples are typically distributed just to
get the patient started on a specific product. If one wanted to dispense these products in this way, I would suggest asking the manufacturer's representative
whether this was the intended use of the samples. Let us know what you think about sampling if you get a chance.
Fitting Tip:
Put CLs in Their Place
When dispensing contact lenses with an O.U. prescription, advise your patients to keep the lenses in the correct side of the case
and not to switch them. This will become a habit so that if the prescription should change in the future, the patient will not have to start learning to keep them
in their proper place. I also explain that if the patient should get an eye infection such as conjunctivitis, there is less chance of it spreading from one eye to
the other.
Bernard Stecher, O.D.,
East Falmouth, Mass.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, review the significance of Œmodulus of elasticity‚ as well as the
aetiology of soft contact lens-induced superior epithelial arcuate lesions, look into the performance of lotrafilcon B lenses intended for daily, flexible or
extended wear, and read a recap of silicone hydrogel-related presentations at the 2005 BCLA conference.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or
call (800) FDA-1088.
Access a reporting form for complications you've seen that were a result of contact lenses dispensed without a
valid prescription at the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry's (ARBO's) Web
site: http://www.arbo.org/arbo.asp?dt=R&doc=Complications. Complete and send the form online or print
it out and fax it to (866) 886-6164.
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