Increased Comfort Delivers Lasting Patient SatisfactionMore About ACUVUE® OASYS®
Important Safety Information
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Global Keratoconus Congress 2007
Register now for the second Global Keratoconus Congress to be held January 25-27, 2008 in Las Vegas. This meeting will be hosted at Bally's on the Las Vegas Strip. Please visit http://www.GKCongress.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.
Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Heather Seasholtz at 215-643-8073.
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Abstract: Rotational Stability of Toric Soft Contact Lenses
This research study from Manhattan Vision Associates/Institute for Vision Research and SUNY State College of Optometry, Department of Vision Sciences, objectively compared the rotational stability of two differently designed toric soft contact lenses over a range of natural viewing conditions using a novel infrared, video-based technique. Two contact lenses using different methods of stabilization were assessed: Accelerated Stabilization Design (Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism) and Lo-Torque Design (B&L SofLens Toric). Four tasks involving saccades were performed: settling time with free viewing, reading, visual search, and execution of large versional tasks. Lens position (degrees of rotation) was continuously recorded with a head mounted, infrared, video-based system and a digital photo slit-lamp in 20 adult subjects. All measurements were obtained from the left eye under binocular viewing conditions with contact lenses on both eyes.
The Acuvue lens was significantly more stable during the settling time and large saccadic versional tasks than the SofLens. For the two other tasks (reading, visual search), performance was similar.
The researchers concluded that the Acuvue design was superior in stability for two of the four conditions tested. This resulted in a more stable lens immediately after insertion as well as during some visual tasks involving either naturally occurring or programmed large versional eye movements. Both lens designs provided acceptable performance in terms of induced astigmatism produced by off-axis rotation.
Zikos GA, Kang SS, Ciuffreda KJ, Selenow A, Ali S, Spencer LW, Robilotto R, Lee M. Rotational stability of toric soft contact lenses during natural viewing conditions. Optom Vis Sci. 2007 Nov;84(11):1039-45.
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Reader Commentary: Reducing Contact Lens Tearing
Many patients are frustrated by frequent tearing of their soft contact lenses. By helping patients reduce the incidence of torn lenses, you have the opportunity to decrease unnecessary expense and frustration, wear of cracked or torn lenses, the potential eye irritation and infection caused by wearing torn lenses, and the potential to drop out. Since my staff and I have instituted the following multi-step approach, our patients are tearing many less contacts.
We instruct all soft lens patients to lubricate their eyes with their recommended rewetting drops at least one minute before removal. This renders the lens more pliable and decreases adhesion after a long day of wear.
Upon removal, ignore the no-rub labeling for multi-purpose solutions and gently rub the lens in one linear direction only, drawing the lens from the center of the palm to the edge of the palm with the ball of their finger, "just like petting a kitten's nose". We request they do this on both sides.
Gently shake a new flat pack before opening, then slosh the opened flat pack slowly back and forth to get the lens moving before quickly tossing the lens and solution out into their palm. We call this process "slosh & toss". Advise this same process in the morning prior to opening the lens case. This decreases common finger nail cracks in the lenses, while forcing the patient to always use fresh solution.
Having the doctor or technician do this in front of the patient while explaining these techniques greatly increases compliance.
Alan P. Levitt, OD
North Miami Beach, FL
Editor's Commentary: Fee Overhaul
This week our practice is rolling out updated contact lens professional fees and updated contact lens material fees. I bring this up because I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that we've let this go for far too long. I'll offer no excuses but am glad that we invested the time to review our invoice costs on each lens, and compare with the market including online retailers. Of course, our goal is to maximize profits while remaining competitively priced. We had a number of discussions on our professional fees which we feel are already competitive. We did further refine what is and is not covered during the fitting process which greatly helps our staff, doctors and interns communicate this consistently and effectively with our patients. Nothing I've said here is rocket science and I hope that more than a few of you are bored to tears by this. 2008 is right around the corner and an ideal time to introduce your updated contact lens material and service fees.
Carla Mack, O.D., F.A.A.O.
This month at http://www.siliconehydrogels.org explore the significance of the recent “no-rub” solution recalls, learn about atypical upper lid margin staining in dry-eyed silicone hydrogel wearers and review the latest in silicone hydrogel research.
Report adverse contact lens reactions here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ or call (800) FDA-1088.
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