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Sunday, October 17, 2010  
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Ocular Surface Update
Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

Lately measurement of tear film osmolarity has become a hot topic in the assessment of ocular surface disease, and recently published data is providing some insight to its role in dry eye disease.

At the recent TFOS Conference, new osmolarity data from clinical centers across the world was presented. Emerging data indicates that the values for tear osmolarity across the spectrum of dry eye severity may have different cut-points than what we previously thought.

As a summary of data from several studies, the reported average normal tear osmolarity value was approximately 302 mOsm, and the reported mild/moderate cutpoint (~315 mOsm) is consistent with previous reports. Interestingly, severe dry eye correlates with a cutpoint of 336 mOsm, a value which may be appropriate if osmolarity is to be considered an entry criterion for clinical trials.

In addition, data suggests that a composite severity index including osmolarity may help to eliminate classification variability found when individual signs and symptoms are used, especially when they do not agree. One challenge in measuring osmolarity, however, is the variability seen between eyes, and it is yet to be determined how this will be incorporated into clinical studies and clinical practice.

Care Solution Corner
Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO

I always look forward to the American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting. This year, it takes place in San Francisco on November 16-20, 2010. It's great fun to catch up with old friends, attend top-rate continuing education courses, and exchange ideas with some of the greatest minds in our profession. In addition, this meeting showcases some of the most current, innovative research in eye care.

Of the Scientific Posters and papers, no fewer than 25 are on the topics of contact lens compliance and care. They include research sponsored by industry and the National Institutes of Health (NIH); independent studies performed at universities, research institutes, and private practices; and projects conducted at sites not only in North America, but around the world.

For the last few years, the Academy has been posting the Scientific Program abstracts and Continuing Education outlines online prior to the meeting. I highly recommend accessing this information ahead of time so that you may schedule your meeting accordingly.

http://www.aaopt.org/meetings...

NEWS

Alcon Introduces Systane Balance Lubricant Eye Drops for Dry Eye Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Alcon, Inc. announced the launch of Systane Balance Lubricant Eye Drops, the newest lubricant eye drop in the Systane family of products. Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) are unable to adequately prevent the evaporation of tears, resulting in dry eye symptoms. According to the company, Systane Balance is a scientifically engineered product that contains HP Guar, borate, sorbitol, propylene glycol and Alcon's exclusive LipiTech System, a unique emulsion technology of mineral oil and an anionic phospholipid. Systane Balance is designed to restore the lipid layer and the natural tear film to allow for relief of dry eye symptoms.

The company reports that doctors observed an association between the use of Systane Balance and better tear film stabilization as well as an improvement in the thickening of the lipid layer. Patients reported minimal blur after instilling the eye drops.

Systane Balance is widely available without prescription at major retailers in the United States and will become available in Latin America later this year.

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Safigel Signs First U.S. Distributor Agreement with Optical Distributor Group

Safigel has signed an agreement with Optical Distributor Group (ODG) for distribution of its Safigel 1-Day daily disposable contact lenses. ODG will distribute Safigel lenses to eyecare practitioners, who will also have the option of having ODG ship directly to their patients. Safigel has been selling contact lenses in Europe for the past five years under the Safe-Gel brand name.

Safigel contact lenses have the same natural bio-polymer, sodium hyaluronate (HA), used in many leading dry-eye drops incorporated into the lens matrix. According to the company, the Safigel 1-Day contact lens remains continually hydrated because of the hydrophilic properties of the hyaluronate gel. Every one molecule of HA in the lens attracts 3,000 molecules of water, creating natural tears on both sides of the contact lens, according to Safigel.

Safigel 1-Day is manufactured in methafilcon A with a reported Dk/t of 40 at -3.00D, a UV inhibitor, and an aspheric front surface. Parameters include 8.6mm base curve; 14.0mm diameter; powers from -0.50D to -6.00D in 0.25D steps, -6.00D to -8.00D in 0.50D steps, +0.50D to +2.00D in 0.25D steps, and +2.50D to +4.00D in 0.50D steps; and center thickness of 0.08mm at -3.00D.

For more information, visit www.safigel.com.

GPLI Symposium to Focus on Fitting Presbyopes

The Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI) and the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA), in conjunction with the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), are co-sponsoring a special clinical symposium, GP Lens Specialty Practice: Today and Tomorrow. The one-day symposium, which offers eight hours of continuing education (COPE approval pending), will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2010, at SCCO in Fullerton, California.

Prescribing for the presbyope, both multifocal and monovision solutions, is the focus of the morning presentations which are highlighted by video Grand Rounds GP multifocal case studies. The afternoon includes sessions on toric fitting and prescribing for the irregular cornea with additional video Grand Rounds.

As guest speaker, Ed Bennett, OD, MSEd, FAAO, will present on toric prescribing and take part in the Grand Rounds. The SCCO faculty speakers include Annie Chang, OD; Julie Schornack, OD, MEd; Dawn Lam, MSc, OD; Brooke Messer, OD and Tim Edrington, OD, MS from the Stein Family Cornea and Contact Lens Service.

Visit www.scco.edu/ce or call 714-992-7809 for further information and registration.

Global Specialty Lens Symposium, January 27-30, 2011, Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

Plan now to attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in January 2011. With an expert international faculty and a CE-accredited agenda, the 2011 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.
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Wharton School and The Vision Care Institute to Host Webinar Tailored for Female Optometrists

The Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and The Vision Care Institute, LLC, announced that they will host a Chief Executive Optometrist Webinar exclusively for female optometrists. This online learning offers both new and established female optometrists executive-level education designed to help them achieve higher levels of success in their practices.

Scheduled for Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET, the one-hour "Strategic Leadership and Empowering Women ODs" webinar explores the transformative power of leadership traits and presents insights into how doctors can apply them to enhance their practice.

The webinar will be presented by Dafna Eylon, PhD, senior fellow at the Wharton School, and Ann M. Hoscheit, OD, FAAO, FAARM, founding partner of Summit Eye Associates in Gastonia, NC, and is available at no cost to participants.

For more information and/or to register, please visit www.chiefexecutiveoptometrist.com.

New Design of B+L PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula Released

Bausch + Lomb (B+L) released a redesign of its PreserVision Eye Vitamin AREDS 2 Formula. The new, smaller soft gel is dosed twice per day, two pills per dose. B+L chose to redesign the pills based on customer feedback, making the product smaller in size. The product was voluntarily recalled in July 2010 due to concerns over the pill's original size.



This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: the results of the 2009 International Contact Lens Prescribing Survey, the impact of UV-absorbing silicone hydrogel lenses, fitting silicone hydrogels for patients with sub-optimal endothelial cell function, and our synopsis of silicone hydrogels at the 2009 American Academy of Optometry meeting.
Editor's Commentary
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

I am not sure if you realize it, but contact lenses are a relatively big business on a global scale. There are approximately between 100-120 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Analysts estimate that the global contact lens business is around $6 billion today and may grow to $11.7 billion by 2015. Let's hope that we have lots of new and innovative products to help us move the field forward well into the future.

CLToday Quick Poll
Last week's question: When do you believe is the average incident age range at which time contact lens wearers first develop symptoms of dry eye?

 20-25 years
   14%

 26-30 years
   16%

 31-35 years
   29%

 36-40 years
   26%

 41+ years
   15%


Abstract

Attitudes Towards Visual Correction in Sport

The authors wanted to evaluate sport professionals' attitudes towards visual correction in sport.

A questionnaire was handed out in schools, gyms, sports centers and universities, to coaches, physical education teachers and final year students of motor science. The questionnaire was also given to one group of sport physicians prior to a 1-day scientific update course on the benefits of contact lenses (CLs) in sport. At the end of the course, certain questions from the questionnaire were given out again in order to evaluate the effect of the update on their opinions.

A total of 245 questionnaires were collected. The interviewees stated that correcting a vision defect during sports practice was important, but their propensity to suggest CLs for sport, though still rather high in value, showed a statistically significant drop. This drop did not occur if the CLs were recommended for competitive sports. This trend remained unchanged if a specific judgment was requested for the adolescent category. The tendency to suggest CLs was higher in CL wearers as compared to non-wearers.

The sport with the lowest recommendation of CLs was swimming.

In the sample of sports physicians, the specific education on the subject of CLs increased the propensity to adopt CLs in sports. The authors concluded that the main "actors" in the sports sector regard correcting a vision defect during sport to be important. Nevertheless, their tendency to suggest CLs is significantly lower. Information provided to make these categories aware of the benefits of CLs in sport can certainly help to fill this gap.

Zeri F, Livi S, Maffioletti S. Attitudes towards visual correction in sport: What coaches, physical education teachers and sports physicians think. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010 Sep 24.


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/.

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