CONTACT LENSES TODAY

December 14, 2003

Contact Lenses TodayŽ is edited by Dr. Joseph T. Barr and the staff of Contact Lens Spectrum. This week CLTodayŽ reaches nearly 10,000 readers in 74 countries.

President Signs Act to Promote Fairness to CL Consumers
President Bush recently signed into law the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, which will take effect on February 4, 2004. The new law includes provisions such as eyecare providers having to give patients their prescriptions as soon as they have concluded the fitting -- regardless of whether the patient asks for it; requiring all contact lens sellers to verify prescriptions and give eyecare providers an opportunity to respond (they may consider the prescription verified after eight business hours and no response from the eycare provider); and requiring that prescriptions are valid for a minimum of one year or the minimum time required by state law -- whichever is greater. In accordance with the Act, the Federal Trade Commission will begin a study of the industry and will submit a report to Congress within 12 months.

Allergan and Inspire to Co-Promote Elestat
Allergan, Inc. and Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have entered into a co-promotional agreement in the United States for epinastine HCL ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Elestat), which the FDA approved in October 2003 for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Under the terms of the agreement, Inspire will pay Allergan upfront and Allergan will pay Inspire a royalty on the topical antihistamine's net sales. Inspire will assume the primary responsibility for selling, promoting and marketing related to Elestat, incurring associated costs.

Paragon CRT Lens to be Made in Menicon Z Material
Menicon Co., Ltd. and Paragon Vision Sciences, Inc. have entered into a strategic alliance in which Paragon will offer the Paragon Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lens in the Menicon Z polymer (ISO Dk 163), which is approved for up to 30 days of continuous wear. According to both companies, this addition to Paragon's CRT product line will be called Paragon Z-CRT. Paragon and Menicon will begin the required clinical study to secure FDA approval for Paragon Z-CRT. They expect the lens to be ready for market in late 2004 or early 2005, pending a successful regulatory outcome.

The Importance of a Care Solution Recommendation! Contact lens patients get the best care you provide, so why not update them to the most advanced lens solution, Opti-Free Express MPDS. A solution recommendation is vital to retain your patients as happy, satisfied lens wearers. Without it, patients may think that all solutions are the same and may be more apt to purchase a generic brand. Generic brands may be older-generation products, which may contain PHMB preservatives.
Keep your patients in comfortable lens wear every day by recommending Opti-Free Express MPDS Lasting Comfort No Rub formula!
http://www.norub.com
--ADVERTISING

GOS Returns
Mark your calendars -- the Global Orthokeratology Symposium is back -- slated for July 22 to 25, 2004 in Toronto, Canada. According to organizers, this year's three-day meeting will provide a comprehensive look from the world's leading experts in the field of orthokeratology and corneal reshaping, including clinical outcomes; patient selection criteria; and an international free paper and poster section. They've also added "The Fundamentals of Contact Lens Corneal Reshaping," which is a stand-alone session that requires an additional registration fee. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.healthcareconferencegroup.com or call (800) 549-3656.

CooperVision to Launch New Lens-Fitting Calculator
CooperVision, Inc. will launch MultiTrack, a new multifocal lens-fitting calculator in early January, 2004. According to the company, MultiTrack is the first Palm handheld computer calculator that assists with the technical presbyopic lens-fitting process. The calculator offers a new system in guiding the fitting process for Frequency 55 Multifocal lenses. Download MultiTrack for free next month at http://www.coopervision.com or request the complimentary Right Fit CD including MultiTrack, ToriTrack and clinical reference files for your Plam.

Acuvue Advance Correction and More Information
In our haste to include the breaking news about Vistakon's new Acuvue Advance contact lens, we incorrectly spelled Hydraclear. We apologize for this error and offer the following additional information on this lens: The Acuvue Advance lens requires no surface coating and boasts less dehydration, low protein deposits and three times more Dk/t than the number-one selling hydrogel. According to Vistakon, Acuvue Advance offers the highest level of UV blocking of today's soft contact lenses, blocking more than 90% of UVA rays and 99% of UVB rays. In clinical trials, the wearers of the Acuvue Advance lens reported that they were still comfortable after nine hours or more of wear. The company expects to make the lens available nationwide in February 2004.

Abstract: CL-Induced Ulcers Often Linked to P. aeruginosa
During a 43-month period, researchers conducted a retrospective study of 23 patients who were admitted to their clinic and who had contact lens-related corneal ulcers. Their goal was to determine the clinical microbiological characteristics of corneal ulcers in contact lens wearers. They evaluated the severity of the ulcers, cultures of corneal scrapings, storage solutions, contact lenses, treatments and final outcomes of each patient. Most (48%) ulcers were mild, 30% were moderate and 22% were severe. The researchers obtained corneal scrapings for cultures in 15 of the cases, of which 44% were positive; corneal scrapings were negative in 33% of the culture-positive storage solutions and in 67% of the culture-positive contact lenses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogen (60%). The researchers concluded that contact lens use is an important risk factor for the development of ulcerative keratitis.

Mela, EK; Giannelou, IP; John, KX; Sotirios, GP. Ulcerative Keratitis in Contact Lens Wearers. Eye & Contact Lens. 2003 Oct;29(4):207-209.

Editor's Commentary: Learn From the AAO
Last week, the American Academy of Optometry met in Dallas and lecturers presented many great lectures on cornea, contact lenses and dry eye. Professor Nate Efron's presentation on keratocyte reduction in contact lens wear and the Joint Section on Vision Science, Section on Cornea & Contact Lens and ARVO Symposium on new dry eye developments (we will cover them in future issues) were two examples of the high caliber of this meeting. Next year, the AAO meeting is in Tampa. Think seriously about joining us there.

Fitting Tip: Never Say Never
Until recently I was having some trouble removing a pediatric Silsoft lens. In one particular case, I was performing a trial fit and the lens was a little tighter than I desired. Then a light bulb went off: Why not use a DMV? I know - they don't work with Silsoft lenses - but actually they do! Simply slide the edge of the DMV under the edge of the lens and lift.
-- Richard C. Colburn, FCLSA
Lake Elmo, Minn.

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