Advanced Vision Technologies (AVT) has introduced a unique new "No Tap Water Rinse" multipurpose contact lens solution cleared by the FDA for both GP and soft hydrophilic contact lenses. The Naturalens RDS (Rinsing, Disinfecting and Storage) multipurpose contact lens solution is effective in removing proteins and debris from the contact lens surface, and yet safe enough to use directly on the eye, according to the company.  
     Due to the recent Acanthamoeba outbreaks, the FDA has issued warnings to patients against the use of tap water with all contact lenses including GP lenses and cases.  "Only use fresh, sterile multipurpose solutions to minimize exposure to waterborne microbes that may contaminate contact lenses or the lens case. RDS provides an effective solution alternative for all GP lens wearers," states Keith Parker, President of Advanced Vision Technologies.
     Naturalens RDS is available online at www.mygpsolutions.com and through eye care practitioner offices. ECPs interested in distribution of Naturalens RDS in their practice may contact Keith Parker at keith@avtlens.com. For more information on AVT products and services, visit www.avtlens.com.   

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has submitted a clinical protocol and request for Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a pivotal Phase 3 environmental trial with Prolacria (diquafosol tetrasodium ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of dry eye disease. Prolacria is an internally developed P2Y(2) receptor agonist being developed by Inspire as an eye drop that stimulates release of the three natural tear components involved in tear secretion: mucin, lipids and fluid, according to the company. Inspire filed an NDA with the FDA in 2003 for Prolacria for the treatment of dry eye disease and has received two approvable letters from the FDA.
     The protocol is based on information from a detailed analysis of the overall Prolacria clinical trial data to date, including Inspire's Phase 3 trials and recently completed pilot trial, and consultation with the FDA, Allergan, Inspire's corporate partner, and other dry eye experts. After detailed analysis, Inspire determined that designing and conducting a further environmental trial was a more appropriate course than further studies of Prolacria in a controlled adverse environment (dry eye chamber). The proposed environmental trial focuses on evaluating the effects of Prolacria on the central region of the cornea measured using the fluorescein staining technique. Once a final SPA agreement is in place, additional details on the trial design will be provided.

ABBA Optical, Inc., a specialty GP lens manufacturer based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, announced the availability of their MVP (Multi-Visual Performance) multifocal lens in the 1-Day fitting and dispensing GP Delivery System called SureFit. This patent-pending system from Paragon Vision Sciences enables practitioners to trial fit and dispense GP lenses in a similar method as soft, disposable lenses.
     MVP-SureFit provides practitioners a single-use, 3-lens fitting and dispensing system for low, moderate and advanced presbyopic patients. According to the company, this new system will ensure a high probability of day 1, first fit success with multifocal lenses from ABBA. The company further states that the SureFit selection of predetermined and highly predictable MVP lens parameters, offered exclusively in Paragon HDS material, will simplify fitting, minimize chair time and dramatically improve patient convenience by reducing office visits. Practitioners can order MVP-SureFit using corneal curvature measurements and refractive error including add power. 
     "In our business, satisfying the customer is our number one priority. If the practitioner is happy with our products and services, the patient will be equally as pleased. Having the ability to fit and dispense a GP multifocal on day 1 will maximize practice profitability and lead to satisfied patients referring new patients into a practice. SureFit will enable a practitioner to immediately meet the demands of the growing presbyopic market, and in the most efficient manner," said Lee Dickerson, President of ABBA Optical.
     For additional information, call 800-331-2015 or visit www.abbaoptical.com. 

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:
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Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO) has named Simon Kilvington, PhD, Director of Microbiology. Dr. Kilvington will be responsible for scientific and managerial leadership of AMO's microbiology activities in support of the discovery and development of new products for contact lens and corneal care.
     Prior to joining AMO, Dr. Kilvington was senior lecturer at the Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom (UK) where he taught medical microbiology to undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is an international authority on pathogenic free-living amoebae and has expertise on bacteria, fungi and viruses, particularly in the field of ocular infection. He has published extensively in the field of contact lens disinfection, the epidemiology of infection and the development of assay methods to assess the efficacy of contact lens disinfectant and therapeutic agents.
     Dr. Kilvington has broad experience as a consultant and researcher with the pharmaceutical, contact lens and water treatment industries. He is regularly invited to present research findings at national and international scientific conferences. Dr. Kilvington received his PhD from the University of Bath, UK.

Edward Lohmann, a 31 year veteran sales professional in the contact lens industry, passed away on September 12, 2008.  Ed started his career with Hydrocurve in 1977, moved on to CooperVision and then to CIBA Vision in 1982, where he spent most of his 24 years as a Sales Director in the Western U.S. After leaving CIBA Vision in late 2006, Ed joined Hydrogel Vision as the Western Area Sales Director. Ed's co-workers from Ciba and Hydrogel Vision along with hundreds of customers throughout the Western U.S. will miss him. Donations in his honor can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Please visit www.pancan.org or phone 877-272-6226.  

The Florida Optometric Physicians Network (FOPN) will support the World Sight Day "Company" Challenge by inviting all of their network doctors to donate the value of one eye exam per month to support Optometry Giving Sight, commencing in October. This commitment has the potential to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year to fund sustainable vision care projects to help the 300 million people who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error-the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
     "It's remarkable to think that just $5 can provide a person in a developing country with an eye exam and a pair of glasses from a locally trained eye health professional," said Dr. Sid Stern, Founder of FOPN. "For many people, this can literally mean the difference between a life of opportunity or a life of poverty and despair." Dr. Stern, who is a member of Optometry Giving Sight's Chairman's Club, said that he hoped that all his colleagues at FOPN would step up to the Challenge, joining each of his 21 optometric practices who will also be raising funds from staff and patients throughout October.
     For more information about Optometry Giving Sight and the World Sight Day Challenge visit www.givingsight.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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Alcon announced that the company plans to expand its medical device manufacturing facility in Cabell County, West Virginia. The company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19, 2008 to formally mark the commencement of this important new facility. In conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony, Alcon also celebrated its 30th year of IOL manufacturing and innovation in the state of West Virginia. 
     Alcon is currently in the planning and design phase of the project and will spend more than $25 million during the first phase of development. The new 74,000 square foot building will be fully functional by 2011 and will allow Alcon's Huntington area operations to remain the world's largest intraocular lens (IOL) manufacturing site, according to the company. Once completed, the expansion ultimately will provide more than 350 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.   

Soft contact lenses have been reported to increase myopia progression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether soft contact lenses affect myopia progression in children. Children between the ages of 8 and 11 years with -1.00 D to -6.00 D myopia and less than 1.00 D astigmatism were randomly assigned to wear soft contact lenses (n = 247) or spectacles (n = 237) for three years. Refractive error and corneal curvatures were measured annually by cycloplegic autorefraction, and axial length was measured annually by a-scan ultrasound. Multilevel modeling was used to compare the rate of change of refractive error, corneal curvature, and axial length between spectacle and contact lens wearers.
     There was a statistically significant interaction between time and treatment for myopia progression (p = 0.002); the average rate of change was 0.06 D per year greater for contact lens wearers than spectacle wearers. After three years, the adjusted difference between contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers was not statistically significant (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.46, 0.02). There was no difference between the two treatment groups with respect to change in axial length (ANCOVA, p = 0.37) or change in steep corneal curvature (ANCOVA, p = 0.72).
     The authors concluded that these data provide reassurance to eye care practitioners concerned with the phenomenon of "myopic creep." Soft contact lens wear by children does not cause clinically relevant increases axial length, corneal curvature, or myopia relative to spectacle lens wear.
Walline JJ, Jones LA, Sinnott LT et al. A randomized trial of the effect of soft contact lenses on myopia progression in children. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2008. 

I probably see from 6-10 patients a week that have meibomian gland dysfunction that is clearly visible under slit lamp examination and supported by the patient's symptoms. Fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining also are used to evaluate the tear volume and chemistry, along with TBUT measurements and phenol red thread testing. The condition of the meibomian glands is easily seen with biomicroscopy without subjecting the patient to the discomfort of gland expression.
     Treatment will vary depending on severity of signs and symptoms. Mild cases can get by with just hot compresses/massage and Ocusoft Foam lid scrubs. Others may need Tobradex ointment, while more severe and recalcitrant cases benefit greatly from Doxycycline for one to two months.
     The prevalence of this condition seems to be increasing along with the increase of patients that are diagnosed with seasonal allergies for the first time, having no previous history of any allergy. I therefore will prescribe, where appropriate, Pataday, Patanol or Elestat along with the above regimen when allergy symptoms are also included with those of dry eye and/or meibomian gland dysfunction.
Charles D. Allen, OD, FAAO
Princeton, NJ

The past few years have been filled with new insights in the care of contact lenses, although some clinical controversies remain. We have seen interesting issues and debate arise regarding infectious outcomes, the impact of corneal staining, the importance of a rub step in the care regimen, and how care solutions might influence comfort during lens wear. New materials with unique chemistries will continue to pose different challenges relative to their care, and the introduction of care solutions with revised or new formulations will offer more options for the clinical care of our patients over the next few years. One thing most all agree on, though, is that compliance is and will always remain critical. 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.