One thing I was reminded of recently, and need to keep in the forefront of my mind, is the many benefits of daily disposable contact lenses. They can be associated with improved comfort, optimized health and compliance, and of course, are quite convenient. I would like to see some updated current data with contemporary daily disposable lens materials confirming these notions in long-term wearers.

Bausch + Lomb (B+L) has named Sheila Hopkins Global President of the company's Vision Care business, and two of the company's senior executives — Peter Valenti III and Steven Robins — have assumed new roles within the organization. Valenti will lead North American Vision Care as President and Robins has been named Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Global Vision Care.

Immediately prior to joining B+L, Hopkins spent 14 years with Colgate-Palmolive Company in a variety of roles including Vice President and General Manager, Personal Care; Vice President of Global Business Development; and most recently as Vice President, General Manager, Professional Oral Care. Hopkins also spent more than seven years at Procter & Gamble where she led marketing for the company's skin care brands. Earlier in her career, Hopkins worked for American Cyanamid, Tambrands and Revlon, and has served on the Board of Directors for Warnaco since July 2003.

Valenti joined B+L in January 2009 from Covidien where he led U.S. sales and marketing strategy. Prior to Covidien, he spent 12 years with Johnson & Johnson in a variety of U.S. and international roles, and earlier in his career he held brand management roles with Procter & Gamble Co.

Robins arrived at B+L in May 2009 with approximately two decades of consumer healthcare experience at leading companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Warner Lambert. Robins also spent time at Young & Rubicam, the global advertising agency.

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that treatment and follow-up have been completed on 69 patients in the company's Phase 2 clinical trial with RGN-259 for the treatment of dry eye syndrome, five more than the number of evaluable patients contemplated in the trial's protocol. After all study data completes the quality control process and data lock, it will then undergo statistical analyses. The trial is on schedule for top-line results to be reported in late October.

Patients received RGN-259 or placebo twice daily for 30 days. Signs and symptoms of dry eye, such as the degree of ocular surface damage, ocular itching, burning and grittiness, among others, was graded periodically during and following the treatment period.

Additional details regarding the Phase 2 trial are available by clicking here.

Plan now to attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in January 2012. With an expert international faculty and a CE-accredited agenda, the 2012 GSLS will include insightful presentations by experts in the field, hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge products as well as scientific papers and posters. Look for more detailed information in future issues of Contact Lens Spectrum and online at www.GSLSymposium.com.
--ADVERTISING

From seasonal eye allergies to UV protection to contact lens hygiene, the traditionalist (or silent) generation (1925-1945), baby boomers (1946-1964) and generations X (1965-1977) and Y (1978-1994) all vary in their eye and vision knowledge and habits, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) annual American Eye-Q survey.

The sixth annual American Eye-Q survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 19 - 23, 2011, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population.

There were several interesting contact lens-related results. According to the survey, younger generations are the most diligent about following their doctor's contact lens wear and care instructions. Gen Y-ers (43%) are the most diligent about replacing their daily disposable lenses on a daily basis whereas up to 67% of baby boomers admit to wearing lenses longer than recommended.

Gen Y respondents also came out on top for appropriately storing their lenses, with nearly half (49%) reporting they replace their contact lens case every one to three months as directed. Baby boomers, however, have room for improvement with only 28% saying they replace their case every one to three months.

Americans of all ages have a lot to learn about cleaning their contact lenses, with nearly a fifth of generation X (19%) and Y (22%) making the mistake of soaking or cleaning contact lenses with water, compared to just 8% of baby boomers. Across the generational board, nearly one-third of respondents reported using rewetting drops to clean or disinfect their lenses.

Applications and nominations are now invited for the 2013 annual BCLA research awards. Closing date is November 1, 2011.

Introduced in 1993, the BCLA Medal Award goes to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to contact lenses. Any BCLA member may nominate a person for the Medal. Past recipients include Professors Brien Holden, Nathan Efron, Irving Fatt, Charles McMonnies, Mark Willcox and Otto Wichterle. Professor Alan Tomlinson will receive the 2012 BCLA Medal.

Other 2013 research awards now open include the £8,000 BCLA Dallos Award, which funds a year long project judged likely to further understanding of a topic related to contact lenses and/or the anterior eye.

The BCLA DaVinci Award recognizes work by those who are not established contact lens researchers; applicants should not have published more than five papers related to the field of contact lenses and/or the anterior eye. The award may also be given in recognition of contribution by an individual within the contact lens-related manufacture and supply industry. The award includes £1,000 and a conference delegate's package. Apply now for the 2012 award.

For further details and application forms for all these awards, please visit the BCLA website at www.bcla.org.uk, or email Jane Kelly at the BCLA, jkelly@bcla.org.uk.

^ Back to top  

An image from your interesting case could appear in this column next week!

We welcome photo submissions from our readers! It is easy to submit a photo for consideration for publishing in Contact Lenses Today. Simply visit http://www.cltoday.com/upload/upload.aspx to upload your image. Please include an explanation of the photo and your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

Can aspirin-like compounds be used to reduce microbial attachment to lenses and cases?

Sodium salicylate is a sodium salt of salicylic acid which is a compound that is chemically similar to, but not identical to, the active component of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Research shows that sodium salicylate may be used as a potential agent to decrease Acanthamoebal attachment to contact lenses as well as acting as an anti-biofilm compound.

Beattie, Tomlinson and colleagues (2011) just published a paper which showed the minimum effective concentration of sodium salicylate required to significantly reduce amoebal attachment to hydrogel contact lenses. They subjected unworn or bacterial biofilm-coated hydrogel contact lenses to exposure of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites in the presence of different concentrations of sodium salicylate. They determined that 10 mM of salicylate would be an effective minimum concentration for reducing amoebal attachment to hydrogel contact lenses.

Others have explored this theory and technology against bacterial biofilms over a decade ago. Farber et al (1995) found that the addition of low-dose sodium salicylate to saline decreased the adherence and biofilm production of S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa to contact lenses and lens cases.

These studies suggest that inclusion of components in contact lens care solution, such as sodium salicylate, has the potential to enhance amoebicidal and antibiofilm efficacy. Further research is called for in this area to assess the feasibility of moving this forward.

Beattie TK, Tomlinson A, Seal DV, McFadyen AK. Salicylate Inhibition of Acanthamoebal Attachment to Contact Lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2011 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Farber BF, Hsieh HC, Donnenfeld ED, Perry HD, Epstein A, Wolff A. A novel antibiofilm technology for contact lens solutions. Ophthalmology. 1995 May;102(5):831-6

MATERIALS & DESIGNS
Ronald K. Watanabe, OD, FAAO

Looking Forward to Academy

As the 2011 American Academy of Optometry meeting approaches, I am reminded of last year's Prentice Award Lecture that presented what I thought was something truly exciting and potentially game-changing. Dr. Earl Smith spoke on current theories of myopia development and promising peripheral optical treatments to slow the progression of myopia (Smith 2011). Though these new treatments were still experimental, preliminary results showed that they could significantly slow the rate of myopia progression as compared to conventional spectacles and contact lenses. He presented information on a novel contact lens design that corrected myopia centrally but reduced relative hyperopia peripherally. By correcting the peripheral retina differently than the center, the stimulus for eye elongation is theoretically reduced. He also presented the positive effects of currently available overnight orthokeratology and center-distance soft multifocals on myopia progression, but the prospect of being able to offer parents of myopic children a unique contact lens that is specifically designed to slow myopia is exciting to consider.

I always enjoy the Academy meeting and am looking forward to what new information will be coming our way in Boston.

Smith EL. Prentice Award Lecture 2010: A Case for Peripheral Optical Treatment Strategies for Myopia. Optom Vis Sci 2011; 88(9): 1029-1044.

Ethyl chloride (EC) is a fast-acting vapo-coolant spray that provides rapid, transient, local analgesia for minor invasive procedures. Although the application of EC has decreased, it can be used as a cryoanalgesic agent in minor surgical procedures. Despite the widespread use of EC as a local anesthetic, there are few reported cases of serious adverse side effects.

The authors report on a case of a 67-year old otherwise healthy man who underwent excision of a papilloma on his superior right eyelid by a general practitioner at a primary care center. The lesion was removed by curettage after slight freezing with EC spray. This chemical agent was applied without the adequate eye protection, and eight hours later the patient presented an acute frost injury of ocular surface.

Urgent treatment included copious irrigation of the affected eye, especially the conjunctival fornices, corticosteroid (prednisone) and antibiotic (neomycin) ointment. A week later, the eyelid lesion and keratoconjunctivitis had resolved but evidence of early cicatrization involving the inferior conjunctival fornix and symblepharon formation were present.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an acute burn of the ocular surface following EC spray exposure. They concluded that EC should be avoided for short-term local anesthesia in the periocular region to prevent this serious complication.

Rodriguez NA, Ascaso FJ. Ocular surface frostbite secondary to ethyl chloride spray. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2011 Sep 2. [Epub ahead of print]

^ Back to top  

A Proud Supporter of

Important Links:
To report adverse contact lens reactions visit: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
To report possible grievances related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act or associated Contact Lens Rule visit: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.

CLToday Services:
Subscribe; Unsubscribe; Submit Clinical Image
Submit news to news@cltoday.com.

Send your comments and fitting tips to cltoday@wolterskluwer.com. Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

For more information on Contact Lenses Today including archives of previous issues, please visit our website at www.cltoday.com. For the latest articles on contact lenses, important clinical information and helpful tools related to the contact lens practice visit the Contact Lens Spectrum website at www.clspectrum.com.

Contact Lenses Today and CLToday are registered trademarks of:
Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions VisionCare Group, 323 Norristown Road, Suite 200, Ambler, PA 19002 | 215-646-8700
© 2011 All Rights Reserved