CONTACT LENSES TODAY

December 28, 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.

Inspire to Move Ahead with Diquafosol for Dry Eye
The FDA recently issued an approvable letter to Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for its diquafosol tetrasodium ophthalmic solution for the treatment of dry eye. The FDA's letter requests that Inspire provide an additional clinical study and indicates that it will provide comments on proposed labeling once Inspire adequately addresses the clinical issues. Inspire completed study 03-108 after submitting the New Drug Application, so it will meet with the FDA to find out whether this study will meet the requirement listed in the approvable letter.

J&J to Sell Three Santen Eye Drugs
Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has licensed Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. to sell the ophthalmic antibacterial levofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Quixin), the ophthalmic allergies drug pemirolast potassium ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Alamast) and the glaucoma medicine timolol hemihydrate ophthalmic solution (Betimol) in the United States. Johnson & Johnson will take over some of Santen's marketing networks to boost sales of the drugs because Santen has apparently been losing money through its own sales network. Santen will keep the responsibility of manufacturing, clinical and regulatory activities associated with these products.

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 my 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
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B&L Will Take Over InSite's ISV-403 for Treatment of Infection
InSite Vision Incorporated plans to sell its drug candidate ISV-403 for the treatment of ocular infections to Bausch & Lomb. According to the proposed transaction, InSite will receive a cash payment, reimbursement of certain ISV-403 product development expenses and a percentage of future ISV-403 product sales in all licensed countries. Bausch & Lomb will assume all future ISV-403 development and commercialization expenses and, following a transfer period, will be responsible for all development activities, with assistance from InSite Vision as appropriate. InSite and Bausch & Lomb expect to complete the transaction before the end of this month.

CLAO Announces New Web Site
The Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO) has developed a new Web site, http://www.contactlensdocs.com , that provides a list of CLAO members (ODs and MDs) and CLAO Associate Members (contact lens specialists) for visitors. The general public and contact lens wearers in particular can also access information on contact lenses and eyecare professionals can learn more about the organization.

First Annual Travatan Eye Drops Project Focus Healthcare Awards
American Legacy Magazine and Alcon Laboratories will present the first annual Travatan Eye Drops Project Focus Awards Presentation at the Forbes Galleries in New York on January 6th. The Awards will honor ophthalmologists for their work in treating glaucoma and for their efforts to educate and promote awareness of glaucoma in the African-American community. Alcon launched Travatan Eye Drops Project Focus, the nationwide, multi-city urban outreach initiative, earlier this year.

Abstract: Bacterial Populations on Silicone Hydrogel and Hydrogel Contact Lenses After Swimming
Fifteen patients swam for 30 minutes with a PureVision lens on one eye and an Acuvue 2 lens on the other. They removed their lenses aseptically and the researchers measured microbial growth after the 30-minute swim and after normal lens wear. Staph epidermidis was the most common bacteria found along with Staph aureus and Strep salivarus on lenses and in the pool water. There was no difference between lens types for growth. After normal lens wear, only three of 16 lenses showed two colonies of growth and the researchers detected no other growth. Swimmers are encouraged to wear tight-fitting goggles and to thoroughly disinfect lenses after swimming, especially before overnight wear.

Choo J; Vuu K; Bergenski P; Smythe J; Caroline P. Bacterial Populations on Silicone Hydrogel and Hydrogel Contact Lenses After Swimming in a Chlorinated Pool. Optom Vis Sci 2003 80(12s):224.

Editor's Commentary: Computer User/CL Wearer Response
Regarding last week's comment on using aspheric multifocals for computer users, two of our colleagues have also suggested lenses where one eye is fit with a center-near aspheric lens and the other is fit with a center-distance aspheric lens. Thanks for the feedback!
Happy Holidays to all!

Fitting Tip: Ortho-k Monovision Options
Orthokeratology on a presbyope presents us with options. We can mold both eyes for far or we can mold one eye for far and the other for near (monovision). With standard contact lens fits, if the patient selects monovision, then we traditionally choose the dominant eye as the distance eye. However, with orthokeratology, there have been times when I've had difficulty getting the dominant eye to acceptable distance visual acuity. Rather than risk this outcome, I now always begin my orthokeratology therapy with full-distance molding in both eyes. The patient will have to wear near correction for a while until I can determine which eye has the best and most consistent distance visual acuity. After I determine this, I refit the other eye with a steeper mold (decreasing molding) until I reach the desired near visual acuity. This technique has the added benefit of allowing the patient to experience both binocular vision and monovision.
--Steven R. Shum, OD
Germantown, Tennessee

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