CONTACT LENSES TODAY
October 31, 2004
Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This
week CLToday® reaches more than 10,000 readers in 74 countries.
Take Time in November to Educate About Diabetic Eye Disease
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 50% to 60% of diabetics get the recommended yearly eye
exams. The organization estimates that 29 million Americans have diabetes, which is the leading cause of new cases of blindness. Fortunately,
eyecare practitioners can prevent vision loss if they diagnose and treat the disease in time. But one-third of the people affected by diabetes are
unaware that they have the disease. Take time this month to urge your healthy patients who are over the age of 45 to have a blood sugar test once
every three years.
NEW AQuify® 5 Minute Multi-Purpose Solution -- specially formulated for silicone hydrogel lenses
AQuify® MPS contains the moisturizing agent, Dexpant-5, an ingredient found in dry-eye and wound-healing
products, and Sorbitol, a humectant, that together locks in moisture. Its formula causes substantially less corneal staining than other MPS
solutions 1,2 and is preferred by silicone hydrogel users versus other multipurpose solutions for its comfort and convenience.
3
AQuify® MPS from CIBA Vision, http://www.cibavision.com
The
New Generation of Lens Care for the New Generation of Lenses.
1 Amos C. A clinical comparison of two soft lens care systems used with silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Optician. 2004; 227(5933): 16-20
2
Amos C. Performance of a new multipurpose solution used with silicone hydrogels. Optician. 2004; 227 (5945): 18-22.
3 CIBA Vision data on file,
2004.
--ADVERTISING
Alcon Supports Senior Eye Health in United States
Alcon has extended a $1.125 million, five-year, unrestricted grant to the Foundation of the American Academy of
Ophthalmology's public service program (EyeCare America) to support its Seniors EyeCare Program. Through this program, eligible individuals receive
a dilated medical exam and up to one year of treatment at no out-of-pocket cost. Seniors EyeCare is designed for U.S. citizens or legal residents
age 65 and older who haven't seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years and who don't belong to an HMO or to the VA.
A Look Into the Future for Those Who Suffer From Macular Degeneration
A Stanford University School of Medicine ophthalmologist is working to perfect implanted microchips to restore vision
to people who suffer from macular degeneration. The microchip would ideally substitute for the rods and cones that get destroyed by signaling
neurotransmitters when the device senses light. Researchers estimate that it may take five years for the first human clinical trials to get
approval, but that the technology may lead to smart drug chips to treat not only eye disease, but also neuro-degenerative disorders.
Abstract:
Best Candidates for CRT
Researchers at the Kentucky Center for Vision presented their initial experience in 20 patients fit with the Paragon
corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lens. They fit and followed myopic patients who had a spherical correction between -1.00D and -7.75D and
astigmatism less than 1.62D for an average of 5.1 months and found that patients whose initial refraction was between -1.00D and -3.00D achieved an
average of 1.50D myopic correction; those between -3.25 and -6.00D achieved an average of 2.9D myopic correction and those greater than -6.00D
averaged 5.8D of correction. One hundred percent achieved 20/40 or better and 55% achieved 20/20 vision. There was an overall 80% success rate.
The researchers concluded that patients who have a spherical manifest refraction between -1.00D and -6.00D and up to 1.50D of astigmatism can expect
a good outcome with CRT lenses.
Koffler BH, Smith VM. Myopia Reduction Using Corneal Refractive Therapy Contact Lenses. Eye & Contact
Lens 2004 Oct;30(4):223-226
Editor's Commentary:
Two Comments on Today's and Tomorrow's CL Field
Please note our new link below to the silicone hydrogel Web site. This is a great source of information to upgrade
your knowledge to help your patients with these great new materials and lenses. We have all dreamed of the day when hypoxia would be obsolete and
we are now getting there.
It's the time of the year where I say that our future generation of optometrists, our current contact lens students
are pleasingly enthusiastic about contact lenses.
I hope this enthusiasm is true across the planet. I would appreciate any comments you have on
this topic.
Fitting Tip:
CL Fitting on the Go
I came across a great online resource perfect to use when you're running behind and want to know whether a certain
contact lens is available in various parameters. The Web site is http://www.eyedock.com . It is a
comprehensive, searchable contact lens and ocular medication database. I highly recommend it.
--Rachael Henrie, O.D.
Tacoma, Wash.
Go to http://www.siliconehydrogels.org for current research on this new classification of contact lens material.
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.
Send your favorite tips to tips@cltoday.com --
if your tip is selected as 'Best of the Month,' you'll receive a free golf shirt (see http://www.CLToday.com for details).
Please include your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.
Visit Contact Lens Spectrum ( http://www.clspectrum.com ) for interactive clinical posters, issue archives and
discussion forums. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips and Photo Clinic, sponsored by Ocular Sciences.
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