CONTACT LENSES TODAY

November 20, 2005

Contact Lenses Today® is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLToday® reaches more than 12,000 readers in 74 countries.

President Signs Decorative Lens Legislation
President Bush signed into law S. 172, a bill that amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to protect patients from eye injuries due to the misuse of decorative plano contact lenses. The Senate approved the bill in July.
Allergan to Acquire Inamed
Allergan Inc. announces its proposal to acquire Inamed Corporation, a global healthcare company. Inamed’s aesthetic brand names include various dermal fillers, complementary to Allergan’s Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin type A), as well as a leading breast aesthetics portfolio. The acquisition is expected to enable Allergan to offer a broad portfolio of aesthetic products and leverage significant growth and cross-marketing opportunities.
FDA Sends Warning Letter to Similasan
Last week’s CLToday included news on Similasan’s Cataract Care eye drops (See, Natural Relief for Cataracts, Nov. 23). It has been brought to our attention that the FDA sent a warning letter to the company in August of this year, after review of the company’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Switzerland. The letter details problems with the plant’s equipment, control procedures and labeling for some products, including Cataract Care. The letter states, “Similasan Pink Eye Relief eye drops and Similasan Cataract Care eye drops are misbranded … The conditions for which they are offered are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners.” The FDA also says because patients can’t distinguish symptoms of cataracts from symptoms of other serious disorders, OTC treatment is inappropriate.
Patients Report Comfort, Crisp Vision with ACUVUE® OASYS™
What are contact lens wearers saying about the ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus? In a recent study, 92% of patients reported the ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses felt fresh and maintained natural moisture in adverse environments. 74% reported comfort while on the computer and 83% said they forgot they were wearing contact lenses when wearing the ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand. And, 80% reported that ACUVUE® OASYS™ felt as natural as their own eyes. Also, 90% of patients reported crisp, clear vision at every moment.
--ADVERTISING
Centennial Optical to Distribute Optical Connection Lenses
Optical Connection announces Centennial Optical will serve as the company’s Canadian National Distributor for its line of Definition AC contact lenses. The Definition AC family of lenses in single vision and toric designs, is developed using aberration control inspired by wavefront technology.
CLES Early Bird Registration
Register for the Contact Lens and Eyecare Symposium (CLES) before Nov. 30th and save up to 30% on registration costs. This year’s CLES will offer more than 80 hours of accredited CE courses, as well as four plenary sessions. The meeting will take place Jan. 11-15, 2006, at the Royal Pacific Resort, Universal Orlando, Fla.
Abstract: Contact Lens Manages Trauma
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology in Dallas published a case report that documents a case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection associated with daily wear of a silicone contact lens. The subject also had bilateral, preexisting biomicroscopic findings of ocular rosacea, seborrheic blepharitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and chronic punctate corneal epitheliopathy. The researchers conclude that the patient’s collective problems produce an increased risk of infection for wear of any contact lens. They further underscored the importance of proper patient selection and post-fit monitoring, even when using hyper-oxygen transmitting silicone hydrogel lenses.
Robertson DM, Cavanagh HD. Pseudomonas aerginosa Keratitis in an Atopic Silicone Hydrogel Lens Wearer With Rosacea. Eye Contact Lens. 2005 Nov;31(6):254-6.
Editor's Commentary: Proposed Large GP Lens Nomenclature
At the most recent CLMA meeting, Rob Breece, O.D., presented the following suggestions on GP lens nomenclature:
• Corneo-scleral 12.9mm - >13.5 mm
Corneal bearing and scleral touch
• Semi-scleral 13.6mm - >14.9 mm
Corneal and scleral bearing
• Mini-scleral 15.0mm - >18.0 mm
Scleral bearing, minimum corneal clearance
• Full scleral 18.1mm - > 24+ mm
Scleral bearing, maximum corneal clearance
I think Dr. Breece's approach is very rationale and will help us communicate better. What are your thoughts?
Fitting Tip: A Tip for Insertion and Removal
When showing a patient how to put on or remove a soft contact lens, use the knuckle of your pointer finger. If you bend your fingers into a fist (thumb inside), the knuckle mimics the curved surface of the eye on which to practice placing and removing the lens. You can wet the knuckle as well to further mimic corneal action. This builds the patient’s confidence and skills. I have had 100% success with this technique.
Tracey Boss, O.D.
Via e-mail
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org, read part two of our BCLA synopsis and learn more about toric silicone hydrogels, including guidelines for comparing the performance of different toric silicone hydrogels, a comparison of corneal swelling with toric and spherical silicone hydrogels, and one patient‚s experiences switching to these lenses.
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 and issue archives. Visit Contact Lenses Today for our Best Fitting Tips.
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