-- ADVERTISEMENT --
Last question:
In the last year, approximately how many contact lens dropouts have you been able to successfully fit in daily disposables,
if even for part-time wear?
1-50
86%
51-100 10%
101-150 2%
151-200 0%
> 200 2%
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Each January, we publish our Annual
Report in Contact
Lens Spectrum that summarizes the contact lens market as best we can for
the prior year. We also publish the "Contact Lens Event" of the prior year—something
that we think stands out in the field of contact lenses. It's traditional for us
to solicit for nominations for this event from our readership. If you have a nomination—something
you think is substantial in the contact lens field and occurred in 2013—please let
us know by emailing me directly at jnichols@optometry.uh.edu.
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The American Optometric Association (AOA) today announced that it has launched the
“See Clearly, America” public education campaign to highlight how doctors of optometry
possess the education, skills, and training to provide quality eye care and help
meet America’s rising eye care needs.
As part of this campaign, the AOA determined that Americans were not aware of the
extensive clinical training and education that the approximately 36,000 doctors
of optometry have received. Dr. David Cockrell, AOA President-Elect noted that at
a time when our country faces growing eye care and health care demands, optometrists
need to change that mindset, and individual state laws, to ensure that all highly
trained, skilled and qualified Doctors of Optometry can help Americans see clearly.
The centerpiece of the “See Clearly, America” campaign is a new website, www.AmericasEyeDoctors.com.
The website provides information about optometrists, issues of importance and ways
to get involved.
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Alden Optical and Medmont recently announced a new topography based method that
allows for precise fitting of Alden Optical custom soft lenses. By incorporating
topographical data with proprietary insight of the optimal corneal to Alden lens
sagittal relationship, the two companies have created a new fitting algorithm that
will ultimately allow practitioners to effortlessly determine the optimal base curve
and diameter of an Alden Optical lens. The companies expect this method to significantly
improve lens fitting which will in turn provide better lens stability, vision, comfort
and corneal health.
Research conducted at Pacific University under the direction of Patrick Caroline,
FAAO demonstrated the remarkable accuracy of calculating corneal sagittal depth
to 15 mm by precisely measuring sagittal depth and scleral angle at 10 mm using
the Medmont E300 Corneal Topographer.
Currently practitioners can take advantage of this method by transmitting their
Medmont maps to Alden Optical’s consultation team who will make the necessary calculations
and recommend the best fit lens. Ultimately, Alden and Medmont plan to release AldenFit,
a dedicated software module that automates the entire process. Practitioners would
simply take standard Medmont topographical measurements, engage the AldenFit module
which would then calculate the best fitting lens specific to that patients HVID,
and corneal sagittal depth. The companies expect the AldenFit software module to
be available in the 4th quarter of 2013.
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Plan now to attend the Optometric
Management Symposium on Contemporary Eye Care, December 6-8, 2013 at Disney's Contemporary
Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This popular annual symposium provides the
perfect balance of timely, disease management courses and practice-building courses
with plentiful networking and leisure time to enjoy all that Disney resorts and
theme parks have to offer.
The educational program is presented by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Salus
University. For agenda, more information and to register, visit
www.OMConference.com.
– ADVERTISING
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The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) is calling for submissions of scientific
papers and posters to be presented at its 2014 Clinical Conference and Exhibition,
taking place from June 6-9 at the ICC Birmingham, UK.
Authors submitting scientific papers and/or posters before November 29, 2013 will
be able to take advantage of a prescreening service. The service, introduced last
year, will give authors the chance to obtain feedback about their paper/poster from
members of the BCLA Academic Committee. The final deadline for submitting papers
and posters is January 24, 2014.
Scientific abstracts are considered on any topic related to contact lenses and/or
the anterior eye, and authors can choose between “poster only” and “poster/oral
presentation” at the point of submission. Clinical case studies may also be submitted
in this category, again with the same options.
Research papers accepted for publication in the Association’s journal, Contact Lens
& Anterior Eye, within a year of the 2014 Clinical Conference will be awarded a
voucher of £100 towards the first author’s full delegate fee at the 2015 Clinical
Conference.
Visit www.bcla.org.uk, email
events@bcla.org.uk or call 020 7580 6661 for more information on how to
make your submission and take advantage of the prescreening service.
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During the recent 52nd Annual Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) Meeting
& Exhibition held in Savannah, Georgia, the organization bestowed following awards.
- 2013 Honorary Recognition Award, in appreciation for a lifetime of dedication and
service to the contact lens industry: Fadi G. Achkouti, Sales Director; Sterling
Ultra Precision, a division of Ametek Precitech, Inc.
- 2013 Industry Enhancement Award, for unselfish dedication to the CLMA and the contact
lens industry: Janice Y. Adams, President, Valley Contax, Inc.
- 2013 Trailblazers Award, for outstanding achievement in product development to the
enhancement of the contact lens industry: Naomi J. Svochak, President, Tru Form
Optics, Inc.
- 2014 GPLI Practitioner of the Year Award, for outstanding professional expertise
in fitting customized contact lenses to benefit patients with improved vision and
corneal health, and to advance the contact lens field: Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO,
FCLSA, Emory University
The awards event concluded with attendees donating over $1,000 to Optometry Giving
Sight. The CLMA has designated Optometry Giving Sight as its International Charity
of Choice.
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Optometry students were at the forefront during the AOA’s Congressional Advocacy
Conference in Washington, DC. More than 250 members of the American Optometric Student
Association (AOSA) traveled to our nation’s capital to ensure the future of the
profession is well represented.
In a video jointly produced by AOSA and OptometryStudents.com, students and practitioners
share their perspective on advocacy and the issues that face the profession. The
video is available on AOSA’s website at http://www.theaosa.org/
and http://www.optometrystudents.com.
The project marks the first formal collaboration between the two organizations,
and signals the importance of the Congressional Advocacy Conference to students.
For a broader perspective on the Congressional Advocacy Conference, the AOA’s Washington
office has produced a short video as well, available at
http://bit.ly/19E4L6M.
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This is an 18mm scleral lens on an eye with keratoconus. The patient was unaware
of the large lash behind the lens. It is not uncommon to find mucus debris or other
matter floating behind a scleral lens, especially larger diameter sclerals. This
patient reported comfortable lens wear.
We thank Dr. Altman for this image and we welcome photo submissions from our other
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
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Scleral Lens Papers at AAO Meeting
This year’s American Academy of Optometry meeting included some unopposed research
paper sessions on hot topics. Scleral lenses were included in a 1-hour session attended
by clinicians and researchers alike. One of the papers presented by Matthew Kaufmann
from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, reported on a comparison of rates of
short-term settling of three scleral lens designs.1
The authors quantified the mean total (and rates of) settling or reduction in tear
film clearance for three types of scleral gas-permeable contact lenses: Onefit (Blanchard
Contact Lens, Inc.), Mini Scleral Design (Blanchard Contact Lens, Inc.), and Jupiter
(18.2 mm diameter, Essilor of America, Inc.). They had each of nine subjects fit
with these three scleral lens designs and at each visit central clearance values
were measured using Cirrus optical coherence tomography (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.)
at the following time intervals following lens insertion: 0 min., 15 min., 30 min.,
45 min., 1 hr., 2 hr., 4 hr., 6 hr., and 8 hr.
They found a significant difference between the total amount of lens settling between
the three designs. On average, the Onefit, MSD, and Jupiter lenses settled a total
of 110.88 µm, 126.75 µm, and 91.13 µm, respectively. Approximately 70% of total
lens settling occurred within the first two hours of wear time. Interestingly, clearance
values of all three lens designs were still decreasing at the eight hour measurement.
The authors concluded that the amount of settling of all three scleral lens designs
tested in this study varied significantly and was not directly related to lens diameter.
Important take home points for clinicians are to fit these lenses with increased
vault at the fitting visit to allow for potential lens settling and reduction of
vault to maintain your desired fitting relationship. Other large diameter lens designs
fit differently may not have this same effect.
1. Kaufmann, M et al. A Comparison of the Rates of Short-Term Settling of Three
Scleral Lens Designs. Program Number 130185. AAO 2103 Annual Meeting.
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Extended Parameter Contact Lens Options
The Biofinity (CooperVision) line of lenses has a new addition: Biofinity XR. CooperVision
has been very progressive in terms of extended parameter ranges for their disposable
soft lens options. Starting with Frequency 55 and Proclear XR lines, they have provided
monthly disposable options for patients with extreme refractive errors. While most
disposable soft lenses are available up to about -12.00 D and +8.00 D, Biofinity
XR is now available up to -20.00 D and +15.00 D, giving us a simple high Dk (128)
option for our high myopes and hyperopes.
Biofinity is still only available in one base curve and diameter. Several smaller
manufacturers also have wonderful custom options available in very high parameter
ranges, some with silicone hydrogel materials available. For example, Unilens, X-Cel,
Metro Optics, and Art Optical can make very high powered lenses in a wide range
of base curve / diameter combinations in Definitive material. Others have the ability
to make a variety of hydrogel materials into lenses with up to +50 and -75 D of
power, base curves as steep as 4.1 mm and as flat as 22.0 mm, and diameters as small
as 6.0 mm and as large as 24.0 mm. We have an amazing range of options available
to us for virtually any size and shape of eye we may encounter.
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Randomized, Double-Masked
Study to Evaluate the Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in MGD
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Dysfunction of the meibomian gland (MG) is among the most frequent causes of ophthalmological
symptoms. The inflammation seen in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is part of
its pathogenesis, and evidence of the antioxidant-inflammatory properties of omega-3
fatty acids suggests this to be an appropriate treatment for MGD.
These researchers aimed to assess the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids versus
placebo, in improving the symptoms and signs of MGD.
The researchers conducted a randomized and double-mask trial of 3 months duration.
They enrolled 61 patients who presented with symptomatic MGD and no tear instability
(defined as tear breakup time [TBUT] <10 seconds). Participants were randomly assigned
to two homogeneous subgroups. For patients in group A, the study treatment included
cleaning the lid margins with neutral baby shampoo and use of artificial tears without
preservatives, plus a placebo oral agent. For patients in group B, the study treatment
included cleaning the lid margins with neutral baby shampoo and use of artificial
tears without preservatives, plus oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids.
The researchers performed the following tests: (1) TBUT; (2) Schirmer I test; (3)
Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA); (4) MG expression;
(5) evaluation of lid margin inflammation; and (6) interpalpebral and corneal dye
staining.
After 3 months of evaluation, the mean OSDI, TBUT, lid margin inflammation, and
MG expression presented improvement from the baseline values, in group B (P < 0.01,
P < 0.001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively). The Schirmer test results were
also improved and statistically significant (P < 0.01).
The authors concluded that oral omega-3 fatty acids, 1.5 grams per day, may be beneficial
in the treatment of MGD, mainly by improving tear stability.
Oleñik A, Jiménez-Alfaro I, Alejandre-Alba N, Mahillo-Fernández I. A randomized,
double-masked study to evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation
in meibomian gland dysfunction. Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:1133-8. doi:10.2147/CIA.S48955.
Epub 2013 Aug 30. Source: Department of Ophthalmology, Jiménez Díaz Foundation,
Madrid, Spain.
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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/.
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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.
© 2013 All Rights Reserved Contact Lenses Today and CLToday
are registered trademarks of:
PentaVision LLC, 323 Norristown Road, Suite 200, Ambler, PA 19002 | 215-646-8700
© 2013 PentaVision LLC All Rights Reserved.
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