CONTACT LENSES TODAY

November 21, 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.

Stockholders Approved Cooper/Ocular Merger
The Cooper Companies, Inc. and Ocular Sciences, Inc. say that they have each obtained the required stockholder approvals for their proposed merger. Upon completion of the merger, OSI stockholders will receive 0.3879 of a share of Cooper common stock and $22 in cash for each share of Ocular common stock that they own. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of Cooper's 2005 fiscal year. Completion of the merger remains subject to anti-trust clearance by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Computer Use Possibly Risky?
In the December 2004 issue of Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Japanese scientists reported that hours spent in front of a computer screen may increase the risk of glaucoma in myopic individuals. They studied about 10,000 workers in Japan who completed a questionnaire about how much time they spent using a computer and any eye problems they experienced. Approximately 5% of the workers in the study had visual field problems and tests revealed that about one-third of them had suspected glaucoma. According to the scientists, there appeared to be a link between glaucoma and heavy computer use in myopic individuals.
The “WOW” factor in ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ with HYDRACLEAR™
 By leveraging the ACUVUE® 2 lens design, many of your ACUVUE® 2 patients will experience a similar "initial WOW” the first time they try ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™. Moreover, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ with HYDRACLEAR™ provides an additional “WOW” at the end of the day after your patients have experienced the long lasting comfort of this lens.  This double “WOW” results from combining HYDRACLEAR™ technology with a proven lens design.
 
It is important to clearly communicate all the clinical benefits of ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ to your patients when you recommend this breakthrough technology. Let your patients experience the outstanding all day comfort, increased oxygen and UV protection from ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ with HYDRACLEAR™.  (http://www.ecp.acuvue.com)
--ADVERTISING
Controlling Blood Pressure Helps Prevent Vision Loss
UK researchers recently reported that people who have diabetes are prone to develop damage to their retinas, but tight control of blood pressure slows the progression of this complication and helps prevent vision loss. They studied 1,148 patients who had type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure who were assigned randomly to either a tight or a less-tight blood pressure control strategy for an average of 9.3 years. Compared with less-tight blood pressure control, the researchers associated tight control with a significant reduction in all types of retinal damage. Tight control also reduced the risk of blindness in one eye by about 25%. The researchers reported their results in the November 2004 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Eyefinity Integrates with Practice Management Software
Optical Internet portal Eyefinity has announced an agreement with California Medical Systems (CALMED) to integrate Eyefinity's Web-based services with CALMED's Medical Practice Expert practice management software. The integration will allow Medical Practice Expert users access to many of Eyefinity's online tools and services, including VSP claim filing, product ordering, lab services, online continuing education and practice management information resources. According to Eyefinity President and CEO Don Yee, "Partnering with progressive companies such as CALMED has been one of the key components of Eyefinity's goal to provide the private eyecare community with the latest online technologies."
 Allergan Announces Executive Appointments
Allergan, Inc. has appointed Dr. Scott Whitcup to executive vice president of Research & Development. The company also named Joseph Schultz as senior vice president of its U.S. Ophthalmology business unit.
Abstract: Protecting Against Acanthamoeba
Researchers conducted a study in which they evaluated the efficacy of two new one-step hydrogen peroxide disinfecting solutions against Acanthamoeba spp and compared it to the efficacy of other commercially available systems. They tested nine one-step 3% hydrogen peroxide systems and two two-step systems for their efficacy against cysts of two Acanthamoeba keratitis isolates at different concentrations. The researchers found that after soaking for eight hours, the two two-step systems completely destroyed the cysts of both Acanthamoeba strains, even at the highest concentration of cysts tested. The nine tested one-step systems showed weaker effects and thus the researchers concluded that they may not protect the contact lens user from a possible infection of the eye.
Hiti K, Walochnik J, Faschinger C, Haller-Schober EM, Aspock H. One- and Two-Step Hydrogen Peroxide Contact Lens Disinfection Solutions Against Acanthamoeba: How Effective Are They? Eye 2004 Nov; Eye Advance Online Publication. 81(6):442-454.
Editor's Commentary: Report New CL Rx Rule Problems to FTC
If you have problems with the way sellers of contact lenses solicit prescription confirmations from you, then the best thing you can do is send complaints to the FTC at FTCcomplaint@aoa.org or file complaints with the FTC at its Web site, http://www.ftc.gov.
Fitting Tip: Comment on the CL Field
I recently lectured at the Georgia Optometric Association's Fall CE Meeting on posterior segment disease and I was asked by a colleague if I am bored clinically because I moved from an optometric co-management center into a primary care private practice. I explained that I love what I do, especially because of all the new advances in contact lenses. Each and every day, I see challenging contact lens fits -- like the post-RK patient whom I saw today and fit in 11.2mm GPs. Between the advances in materials and designs, we can now offer our patients contact lenses that are healthier and that fit their lifestyle needs in a much more complete fashion. However, it's often necessary to spend more time with our contact lens patients and be aware of all the new contact lens modalities. As I tell all of my patients, it's a great time to be a contact lens wearer.
--Joseph M. Rappon, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.
Conyers, Ga.
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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