Peg Achenbach, OD, has joined the Vistakon Professional Development Group as Senior Director, Professional and Medical Affairs. In this role, Dr. Achenbach will lead the company's Medical Affairs group and also will direct the team at The Vision Care Institute, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson Company.
     Prior to joining Vistakon, Dr. Achenbach was Vice President of Medical Operations for SDR Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she spearheaded research and product development in oncology, HIV, TB, antimicrobial agents, and dermatology. Those efforts resulted in the national launch of five therapeutic products over the last three years. 
     Following her graduation from Pacific University College of Optometry, Dr. Achenbach directed the testing and development of new contact lens solutions and materials while managing clinical research at Bausch & Lomb. She also founded an optometric practice specializing in the fitting of contacts, ocular disease and low vision. Dr. Achenbach is a panel member of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and a member of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Menicon Co., Ltd. announced the appointment of Jonathan Jacobson as General Manager, Global Business Strategies and Operations. Jacobson joins Menicon after serving at Bausch & Lomb (B&L) for 23 years. During this time, he held many different executive positions including Director of Marketing, Director of International Sales, and Director of International Business for Polymer Technology Corporation. He also acted as Director of GP Business for B&L in Europe. For the last eight years, Jacobson has been the Director of Global GP Business for B&L.
     Mr. Jacobson will be based in United States while being responsible for the company's business strategies and operations throughout the world including the recently acquired Rose-K business.
     Toshio Matsushima, Senior Executive Officer for Menicon commented: "We are extremely happy to welcome Mr. Jacobson on board. Mr. Jacobson, with his exceptional knowledge of and experience in the global contact lens business and strong leadership skills, is now a key player in our organization and will play a leading role in expanding our business worldwide. We are really privileged and fortunate to have him on the global Menicon team." 

SynergEyes, Inc., the high Dk hybrid contact lens manufacturer, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) market clearance for the use of the following lens care products with SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses: CIBA Vision's Aquify Multi-Purpose, AMO's Complete Multi-Purpose Easy Rub, AMO's Oxysept UltraCare Formula Peroxide Disinfection System, and Bausch and Lomb's ReNu MultiPlus Multi-Purpose.
     CIBA Vision's Clear Care and Alcon's Opti-Free Express Multi-Purpose solutions were granted FDA market clearance for use with SynergEyes lenses in September 2005. According to SynergEyes' Director of Research and Development and Senior Polymer Scientist, Dr. Ramazan Benrashid, "Several lens care products proved to be compatible with our HydrolEyes surface science and complemented our materials on eye. The care product requirements for the SynergEyes hydrophilic rigid gas permeable center and soft skirt surfaces are similar to the requirements for surface modified silicone hydrogel lenses." 

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the company filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Bepreve (bepotastine ophthalmic solution). The company is seeking approval for Bepreve as an eye drop treatment for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
     In April of this year, ISTA announced highly statistically significant reductions in the primary study endpoint of ocular itching from the preliminary analysis of its second and final Bepreve Phase III clinical study. In addition, the results showed Bepreve had a statistically significant effect on the rapidity of response and in certain secondary endpoints measuring additional signs or symptoms of ocular allergy, including improvement in nasal symptoms. There were no serious ocular adverse events reported in patients dosed with Bepreve from the study.

Research suggests that many toric contact lens wearers are not satisfied with their visual performance. Make your patients' experience satisfying with new ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM. The latest in toric lenses combines HYDRACLEAR® Plus for all-day comfort with Accelerated Stabilization Design for crisp, clear vision. To learn more, go to jnjvisioncare.com.
Important Safety Information
--ADVERTISING

ScienceBased Health, a provider of nutraceuticals for eye health, announced the launch of DiaVis, a specialized dietary supplement to support the visual and overall health of those with diabetes.
     According to the company, research has identified nutrients that may be low in diabetics due to inadequate nutrient intake, increased excretion, and altered nutrient requirements due to higher oxidative stress or use of diabetes-related medications. Some studies have found diabetics and those with retinopathy to be low in antioxidants, the company release also noted, and antioxidants have been found to play an important role in helping to combat oxidative stress, which plays a role in developing diabetic complications.
     DiaVis delivers a blend of key antioxidants, including Pycnogenol, and other nutrients found to play a role in helping to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, and that tend to be marginally low in those with diabetes. Additionally, per ScienceBased Health, DiaVis delivers ingredients found to play a role in normal glucose metabolism and retinal vessel health.
    "DiaVis was developed for those with diabetes as well as the overwhelming number of people with pre-diabetes," said Alain Magro, President, ScienceBased Health. "Research shows that damage to the body is already occurring in the pre-diabetes phase and that certain nutrients can play a crucial role in bolstering the body's defenses. We believe that DiaVis represents the most advanced scientific research on the role of nutrition in diabetic health."  

Aton Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company which provides the dry eye medication Lacrisert (hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic insert), announced results of a recent survey of ophthalmologists regarding issues in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of dry eye. Nearly all of the ophthalmologists surveyed (94%) believe more treatment options are needed for moderate to severe dry eye. While 80% feel current therapies are effective for mild dry eye, only 33% feel they are effective for moderate dry eye and 67% feel they are only somewhat effective or not very effective. Only 5% feel current therapies are effective for severe dry eye, while 56% feel they are somewhat effective and 38%, not very or not at all effective.
     A total of 245 ophthalmologists completed the survey in October 2008, including 51 corneal specialists, 153 comprehensive/general ophthalmologists and 41 from other ophthalmology specialty categories.
     The survey respondents reported that over the course of a year, they prescribe, recommend or suggest an average of 1.9 different treatment approaches for each mild dry eye patient, 3.2 treatment approaches for each moderate dry eye patient and 4.9 treatment approaches for each severe dry eye patient. Most (81%) of the survey respondents reported that signs and symptoms of moderate/severe dry eye can be improved but seldom eliminated.
     Among the most common key considerations by ophthalmologists when selecting treatment products for moderate/severe dry eye patients are ability to provide continuous relief (84%) and ability to use long-term (74%). Other considerations selected by a majority include dosing frequency (66%), length of time preserving the tear film (66%) and length of time to effectiveness (63%).

Davis Vision, Inc., one of the nation's largest managed vision care companies and headquartered in Plainview, NY, named Tom Davis Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. In this new position, Mr. Davis will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities for Davis Vision, including new regional marketing strategies.
     Mr. Davis has most recently served as Executive Vice President for Spectera/United Health Care Vision where he was responsible for managed vision care services for commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, health plan and affinity managed vision care lines of business. He also has served as the company's Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Sales. In addition, Mr. Davis has served as Regional Vice President, Regional Sales Manager and as an Account Executive for Vision Service Plan (VSP). Mr. Davis was the founding President of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) in 2003, and served as a board member of the organization from 2003 to 2007, and as Vice President of Marketing from 2004 to 2007. He also was Editor of the NAVCP newsletter, Insights, and received the 2007 President's Award for outstanding contributions to the vision care industry.

Join Contact Lens Spectrum and the Health Care Conference Group for 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 - from presbyopia to pediatric vision correction - 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. 
--ADVERTISING

The aim of this study was to measure tear film evaporation of both contact lens wearers (CLW) and non-wearers. The hypotheses tested were that (i) amongst CLW tear film evaporation was higher when contact lenses are worn and (ii) tear film evaporation of CLW was higher than non-wearers in the absence of contact lenses.
     Tear film evaporation rate was measured at 30% and 40% mean humidity. The subjects were divided into three groups: (i) CLW wearing contact lenses (n = 111 subjects or 222 eyes), (ii) CLW having not worn contact lenses on the day of the visit (CLW no CL n = 129 subjects or 258 eyes), and (iii) Non-contact lens wearers (NW) (n = 139 subjects or 278 eyes). The rate of evaporation was similar for the right and left eyes at both humidities. The rate of evaporation was significantly higher for the CLW, than for both CLW no CL and NW. The decrease in the rate of evaporation between the dry (30%) and normal (40%) environmental conditions was significantly lower for the CLW than for the NW. Further, the evaporation rate was significantly greater for the CLW, even after one day without contact lens wear, than for the non-wearers.
     According to the authors, the investigation demonstrates that the rate of evaporation is higher in the presence of a contact lens; the effect may be associated with tissue and/or tear film changes as it is, in part, still present 24 hours after contact lens wear. Wearing contact lenses in normal humidity conditions (40%) produces a greater evaporation than that experienced by non-contact lens wearers in low humidity (30%). This could explain the higher prevalence of dry eye complaints among CLW than amongst non-wearers. The study results support the hypothesis of increased evaporation as a contributing factor to contact lens induced dry eyes.
Guillon M, Maissa C. Contact lens wear affects tear film evaporation. Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice. 2008 34(6):326-330. 

There have been tremendous strides made in hydrogel materials over the last 10 years with new chemistries that have changed both the bulk and surface characteristics of contact lenses. This was, in part, in response to the idea that increasing oxygen permeability of lens materials would improve safety during lens wear. Although there has been a lot of discussion about the potential expansion of the FDA hydrogel material classification to better characterize these new materials into a new group, this has yet to happen. Interestingly, a few studies have now shown that silicone hydrogels have not made a tremendous impact on the risk of microbial keratitis associated with overnight wear. It is not necessarily clear on whether or not these new materials have made a general impact on other clinical areas such as comfort, for example. Most would agree that, although we have certainly come a long way and we are providing our patients with safer options, there is room for further development in this area.
Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

This month at www.siliconehydrogels.org: factors affecting patient comfort, lens-solution staining, part two of our ARVO 2008 synopsis, and silicone allergies - fact or fabrication?