CONTACT LENSES TODAY

December 3, 2006

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.


FDA Approves Paragon Z CRT
Paragon Vision Sciences officially launched the Paragon Z CRT in the U.S., following FDA approval for overnight corneal reshaping. The lenses are manufactured in Menicon Z, which the company says has a Dk value of 163, and Paragon HDS 100 materials. The Paragon CRT and Z CRT are available in powers up to -6.00D and astigmatism up to -1.75D. Paragon will begin accepting orders for its Diagnostic Dispensing system on Dec. 7, at the American Academy of Optometry meeting. Paragon-certified practitioners can begin ordering the new lenses from authorized labs on Jan. 15, 2007.

Menicon Receives Approval for Continuous Wear in Japan
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has granted approval to the MeniconTinue GP contact lens for up to 30 days of continuous wear, making it the first lens approved for continuous wear in the country. The lenses are manufactured in tisifocon A (Menicon Z) material, which has a Dk value of 163. The company intends to launch the lens in Japan early next year.

Winter Sun Can Damage Eyes
While UV radiation in winter months is generally lower, exposure to UV rays can temporarily harm eyes and increase a person’s risk of developing sunlight-related eye disorders including cataracts, according to a recent release from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. The World Health Organization (WHO) says snow may double a person’s overall UV exposure. The group says fresh snow may reflect as much as 80% of UV rays, versus other surfaces such as grass, soil and water, which reflect less than 10% of UV rays. Brian Linde, O.D., past president of the Montana Optometric Association recommends a combination of UV-absorbing sunglasses, UV-blocking contact lenses and a wide-brimmed hat. He also recommends ski goggles for winter sports enthusiasts because they can help prevent debris and snow from blowing into the eyes.

States with Weak Vision Requirements May Have more Crashes
A new report from the Vision Council of America, Keeping Our Eyes on the Road, reviewed vision regulations in 50 states and the District of Columbia in order to determine whether there is an association between states’ approach to vision screening and their vehicle crash rates. It found that of the top ten states with the highest rate of fatal crashes, four require no vision screenings after the initial license application and four more require screening only at intervals of eight years or more. The report also found that nine states do not require any vision screening for drivers during license renewal; four states require vision screening for drivers only over a certain age; 38 states require vision screening for drivers, but of those, 22 allow drivers to go as long as eight years without having their vision checked;12 states require vision screening at intervals of five years or less and 20 states have additional provisions for adults beginning at age 40.
    For more information and tips to help drivers stay safe, visit http://www.visionsite.org.

The Next Generation of Silicone Hydrogels The latest advance in the ULTRA COMFORT SERIES™ offers comfort, vision and health to contact lens wearers. ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus are made from a new lens material, senofilcon A, a proprietary formulation including a remarkable moisture-rich wetting agent with no surface coating. ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses have excellent oxygen transmissibility, high volume of wetting agent and a smooth surface. This breakthrough material creates a lens so moist and smooth that an eyelid glides effortlessly over it. Prescribing a lens that offers patients comfort in dry environments that can make eyes feel tired and dry will keep them from dropping out of lens wear and increase patient satisfaction
--ADVERTISING

Global Keratoconus Congress 2007 Register now for the first-ever Global Keratoconus Congress to be held January 26-28, 2007 in Las Vegas. This meeting will be hosted at Bally’s on the Las Vegas Strip. Please visit http://www.gkc2007.com. There you will find the most up-to-date educational program agenda and information on hotel accommodations, as well as the ability to register for the event.
--ADVERTISING



Dr. Barry Adler Receives GP Practitioner of the Year Award
The Contact Lens Manufacturer’s Association (CLMA) presented Dr. Barry Adler of Alder Eye Associates in Chapel Hill, N.C. with the GP Lens Practitioner of the Year Award for his tireless pursuit of excellence in fitting GP lenses. Dr. Adler is known for his ability and skill in fitting bifocals, multifocal and specialty lenses.

B&L Names Chris Snyder Director of Professional Relations
Bausch & Lomb has named Christopher Synder, O.D., M.S. director of professional relations for the Lens Care/OTC product portfolio within the vision care business of the American region. Dr. Snyder will work with the company’s director of professional relations — Contact Lenses, Michael Pier, O.D. Dr. Snyder previously served as the Director and Chief of the Cornea and Contact Lens Service at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry.

First Global Conference on Refractive Error
The International Centre for Eye Care Education (ICEE) will host the first global conference on refractive error and service development in Durban, South Africa from March 14 to 16, 2007. For more information, visit http://www.icee.org.

Abstract: Overnight Corneal Swelling with High-Dk CLs
A recent study conducted at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry’s Centre for Contact Lens Research compared central corneal swelling induced by two different silicone hydrogel, high-Dk lenses in overnight wear. Researchers fit 20 neophyte subjects with a comfilcon A lens (CooperVision) in one eye and a lotrafilcon A lens (CIBA Vision) in the contralateral eye. They then fit another 20 patients with a comfilcon A lens in one eye and no lens in the contralateral eye. They measured corneal thickness with optical pachymetry before insertion, immediately after lens removal on waking, at 20 and 40 minutes, one hour, two hours and three hours.
    Investigators found no significant difference between the amount of overnight central corneal swelling induced by the two lenses. The swelling in eyes that wore the comfilcon A lens was significantly higher than that of the non-lens wearing eye. They conclude that the higher overnight swelling observed with this lens is similar to that reported in the literature for studies using lotrafilcon A lenses.
Moezzi AM, Fonn D, Simpson TL. Overnight corneal swelling with silicone hydrogel contact lenses with high oxygen transmissibility. Eye Contact Lens. 2006 Dec;32(6):277-80.


Editor's Commentary: Overnight Wear
Our abstract this week mentions two silicone hydrogel lenses, one with 30-day continuous wear approval and one that is being investigated for extended wear. Overnight wear of these lenses results in corneal swelling, which is similar and minimal compared with the normal closed eye condition. Despite the fact that there are reasonable concerns about overnight wear of contact lenses, many patients continue to wear them, especially newer higher Dk/t lenses, with reasonable safety. We can minimize the risks of overnight wear and contact lens wear in general if we are diligent. Check out the site we recommend below http://www.siliconehydrogels.org for more information.

Fitting Tip: Toric Lens Fits
In fitting toric soft contact lenses, the markings visible on the lenses can be useful in preventing or diagnosing right for left lens swaps when the patients return for follow-up or troubleshooting. Often the lens markings differ with different lens powers. So if you record the markings seen on the eye on that first look at the lens, it's simple to check on follow-up visits.
    When the patient returns wearing the left lens on the right eye, a quick slit lamp examination of the markings can reveal the swapped circumstance easily, saving lots of sleuthing and wasted lenses.
Tom Baugh, O.D.
Denison, Texas.


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.

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