The Vision Research Institute (VRI) at the Ferris State University’s Michigan College of Optometry announces the launch of a new website – myopiacontrol.org. Under the guidance of Stephanie Ramdass, OD, the site is designed to be a central portal for global eyecare practitioners as a gateway to information on myopia and myopia prevention. According to Dr. Ramdass, as the percentage of the world’s population afflicted with myopia is very high and appears to be on the rise in most parts of the world, the goal for this site is to provide a place where ECPs can visit that discusses the latest studies, philosophies, treatments and controversies. Featured are international perspectives on myopia control, recent publications and when fully populated an archive on this topic dating back over the past 60 years.

Metro announced immediate availability of their new, innovative ComfortKone QuickFit System for patients with keratoconus. According to the company, the ComfortKone QuickFit five lens system will be the first to utilize fluorescein pattern imaging captured with typical smartphone cameras as part of the standard fitting process. As many practitioners consider the fitting of keratoconus as one of their more challenging clinical situations, today’s smartphone camera technology will make the process of fitting the company’s flagship keratoconus design easier and more accurate for practitioners and their patients.

Practitioners will follow simple guidelines to select and apply one of five diagnostic lenses, instill fluorescein, capture and email a photo and an over-refraction to the Metro Optics consultation team and the consultants help them do the rest.

ComfortKone QuickFit System for Keratoconus is a product update driven by customer feedback and is part of Metro Optics’ commitment to deliver the latest specialty lens product innovation. For information call Metro-Optics at 800-223-1858.

OCuSOFT introduces the following innovations to its eyelid hygiene product portfolio: OCuSOFT Lid Scrub PLUS Swabstix and Oust Demodex Swabstix used in-office by practitioners to help manage blepharitis and demodex mites; and OTC OCuSOFT HypoChlor Solution and OCuSOFT HypoChlor Gel used as an adjunct to OCuSOFT Lid Scrub products in the most severe Blepharitis cases. OCuSOFT HypoChlor Solution and OCuSOFT HypoChlor Gel both contain 0.02% Hypochlorous acid.

According to the company, OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original and OCuSOFT Lid Scrub PLUS are effective and intended for continuous daily eyelid hygiene use. The root cause of anterior blepharitis is the overproduction of oils. Mild surfactants in OCuSOFT Lid Scrub eyelid cleansers act to dissolve and remove oil, debris and desquamated skin. The company also states that Hypochlorous acid formulas do not contain these surfactants and thus are largely ineffective in debriding the oil, scales and debris often associated with eyelid irritations. Accordingly, in the most severe cases where Hypochlorous acid might be most beneficial, it is suggested to use combination therapy including both a surfactant cleanser and Hypochlorous acid to achieve optimum results.

OCuSOFT HypoChlor 0.02% concentration of Hypochlorous acid in both spray and gel formulation, when used in the most severe cases and in combination therapy, can lower patient costs when compared to an Rx cleanser, according to the company.

For more information, please call 800-233-5469 or visit www.ocusoft.com.

Visionary Optics announced the release of the company’s newly redesigned website. The website features simplified navigation, streamlined content, direct online ordering functionality and access to the information you need, any time of day.

Start exploring at www.visionary-optics.com:

• Visit the product pages to learn about all products with improved and streamlined content.
• Establish a new account or place your next order via the improved online ordering which allows order placement directly through the website.
• Explore the learning center to view the resources designed to answer all of your common scleral lens questions including webinars, articles, case studies and quick links to scleral lens resources.
• Use the Contact Us form to share your experience or request additional information regarding our lens designs.
• Learn more about Visionary Optics under the Why Visionary Optics tab.

The Orion Vision Group, provider of custom soft lens tinting for prosthetic and specialty cosmetic soft use, announces the release of BioSport Sclera; the first GP scleral sports-tinted contact lens. According to the company, BioSport Sclera is an excellent alternative for GP lens wearers that require protection from the sun’s glare and UV light and at the same time want the stability and comfort of a scleral lens.

The BioSport Sclera is manufactured in the Lagado Tyro-97 (Hofocan A, DK of 97) UV material because of the materials’ exceptional wettability, flexural strength and optical quality. The BioSport Sclera is available in diameters of 13.0mm to 18.2mm and powers of +25.00 to -25.00 with toric and multifocal options available. The nine lens diagnostic set is available with a standard diameter of 16.3. BioSport is now available in #3 dark gray with other colors are being tested. The lens will be officially introduced at the 2015 Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas January 22-25.

For information on the company’s products visit www.orionvisiongroup.com.

Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation and the AOA announced the winners of the following scholarships for 2015:

InfantSEE Scholarship Grant - Sarah Kuipers of Indiana University School of Optometry was honored with first place ($5,000) and Kyle Stott of Southern College of Optometry was awarded second place ($2,500). Sponsored by Vision West, Inc., the InfantSEE Scholarship Grant requires third-year optometry students to write an essay describing their commitment to children’s vision. They must also desire to participate in the InfantSEE program.

Dr. Seymour Galina Grant - Third-year student Leanne Roach of University of Houston, College of Optometry is the recipient of the Dr. Seymour Galina Grant ($2,500). Applicants are required to write an essay about qualities they have developed through financial planning/work experience during and/or before optometry school that will be the most useful in a professional optometric practice.

Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings Scholarship - Amy Puerto, a fourth-year student from Southern College of Optometry was honored with the Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings Scholarship ($5,000). This opportunity was generously funded by numerous individual donors, as well as a large contribution from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. As Dr. Cummings was a dedicated philanthropist in his profession, the scholarship requires recipients to write an essay about their goals in the area of public health and leadership roles in optometry.

Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship - Third-year student Laura Chan of New England College of Optometry is the first recipient of the new Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship ($10,000). Sponsored by Essilor, this scholarship honors Bernard Maitenaz, inventor of the Varilux lens and one of the foremost authorities in optical science and engineering. Applicants for the scholarship must demonstrate leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, and work experience, among other requirements.

To learn more about endowment and scholarships offered through Optometry Cares or to make a donation to support these scholarships, visit www.aoafoundation.org/endowment-fund.

This patient underwent PRK surgery eight years prior to the taking of this photo. During surgery Mitomycin C was used to prevent corneal haze. Eight years later we diagnosed a scleral melt in the inferior conjunctiva while doing a scleral lens evaluation. Seven surgeries were done to patch the hole created by the Mitomycin C.

We thank Dr. Boshnick for this image and we welcome photo submissions from our other readers! It is easy to submit a photo for consideration for publishing in Contact Lenses Today. Simply visit http://www.cltoday.com/upload/upload.aspx to upload your image. Please include an explanation of the photo and your full name, degree or title and city/state/country.

Looking Beyond Labeled Dk/T Values for Contact Lens Oxygen Transmissibility

In my last column I discussed the outcomes of two studies that looked at the influence of contact lens vaulting on oxygen availability at the corneal surface. One study evaluated vault influences for scleral lenses and the other for hybrid lenses. This week I would like to review the outcomes of a study that looked at oxygen transmission through various portions of soft contact lenses as a function of lens power.

The intent of this investigation was to study the central and peripheral thickness of several contact lenses (CL) with different powers and analyze how thickness variation affects CL oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t). Four daily disposable and five monthly or bi-weekly CLs were studied. The powers evaluated for each CL design were: 1. the maximum negative power of each design; 2. -6.00D; 3. -3.00D; 4. Minimum minus power (-0.25D or -0.50D); 5. +3.00D; and 6. +6.00D. Central and peripheral lens thicknesses were measured with an electronic thickness gauge. Each lens was measured five times in the central and peripheral portions and the mean value for each was considered. Using the values of oxygen permeability (Dk) given by the manufacturers and the measured thicknesses, the variation of oxygen transmissibility according to lens power was determined.

Results found that for monthly or biweekly lenses, central thickness values varied according to power from 0.061 ±0.002mm to 0.243 ±0.002mm, and peripheral thickness varied from 0.084 ±0.002mm to 0.231 ±0.015mm. Daily disposable lenses showed central thickness values ranging from 0.056 ±0.0016mm to 0.205 ±0.002mm and peripheral values from 0.108 ±0.05 to 0.232 ±0.011mm. Oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t), depending on location measured, of monthly or biweekly CLs ranged from 39.4 ±0.3 to 246.0 ±14.4 and for daily disposable lenses the values ranged from 9.5 ±0.5 to 178.1 ±5.1. The authors concluded that central and peripheral lens thicknesses change significantly according to CL powers and this has a significant impact on the oxygen transmissibility of the contact lens. Eyecare practitioners must have this fact in account when high power plus or minus lenses are fit or when continuous wear is considered.

Manufacturers provide us with Dk/t values for contact lenses that are derived solely from the center of the contact lens for a -3D power lens. As is clearly seen in this study, the contact lens oxygen transmissibility can vary greatly according to lens power and the point on the lens that the measurements are taken. High plus lenses tend to have thicker centers and high minus lenses tend to have thicker peripheries. The more extreme lens powers can have reduced Dk/t values to degrees that can influence lens induced corneal physiological response (especially in cases of continuous wear use). Most practitioners tend to be concerned about higher plus lens powers (because of lower manufacturer reported Dk/t values); however greater concern should be given to high minus powers with thicker peripheries due to the potential influence on the highly sensitive and critically important corneal limbal stem cells.

Lira M, Pereira C, Real Oliveira ME, Castanheira EM. Importance of contact lens power and thickness in oxygen transmissibility. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2014 Dec 29. [Epub ahead of print]

Corneal Nerve Density in Dry Eye Disease

Just published in Ophthalmology is a study to evaluate whether the levels of corneal subbasal nerve fiber length (SNFL) in dry eye disease (DED) could prognosticate the level of improvement in signs and symptoms after treatment. In this study, patients with DED were randomized to receive topical artificial tears, loteprednol etabonate 0.5%, or loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% twice daily for 4 weeks. At baseline, in vivo confocal microscopy of central cornea was performed in both eyes. Patients with DED were divided into two subgroups: those with low baseline SNFL and those with near-normal baseline. Clinical signs and symptoms (symptom questionnaires, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), conjunctival staining with lissamine green, tear break-up time, Schirmer's test) at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment were compared between the subgroups with low and near-normal SNFL for all therapeutic groups.

In patients with DED, baseline SNFL was significantly lower than in controls. In the artificial tear and loteprednol groups, although no significant improvement in any sign or symptom was noted in patients with low baseline SNFL (<16.84 mm/mm2), subjects with near-normal baseline SNFL showed significant improvement in both symptoms and CFS score. In the loteprednol/tobramycin group, no significant change was evident for any sign or symptom in either subgroup of low or near-normal baseline SNFL.

The authors suggest that significant improvements in CFS and patient symptomatology after DED treatment were evident only in the subgroup with near-normal corneal SNFL. Consideration of SNFL may assist in explaining the variability of patients' response to DED therapy.

Kheirkhah A, Dohlman TH, Amparo F, Arnoldner MA, Jamali A, Hamrah P, Dana R. Effects of Corneal Nerve Density on the Response to Treatment in Dry Eye Disease. Ophthalmology. 2014 Dec 24. [Epub ahead of print].

The aim of this work was to study the central and peripheral thickness of several contact lenses (CL) with different powers and analyze how thickness variation affects CL oxygen transmissibility.

Four daily disposable and five monthly or biweekly CL were studied. The powers of each CL were: the maximum negative power of each brand; -6.00D; -3.00D; zero power (-0.25D or -0.50D), +3.00D and +6.00D. Central and peripheral thicknesses were measured with an electronic thickness gauge. Each lens was measured five times (central and 3mm paracentral) and the mean value was considered. Using the values of oxygen permeability given by the manufacturers and the measured thicknesses, the variation of oxygen transmissibility with lens power was determined.

For monthly or biweekly lenses, central thickness changed between 0.061±0.002mm and 0.243±0.002mm, and peripheral thickness varied between 0.084±0.002mm and 0.231±0.015mm. Daily disposable lenses showed central values ranging between 0.056±0.0016mm and 0.205±0.002mm and peripheral values between 0.108±0.05 and 0.232±0.011mm. Oxygen transmissibility (in units) of monthly or biweekly CL ranged between 39.4±0.3 and 246.0±14.4 and for daily disposable lenses the values range between 9.5±0.5 and 178.1±5.1.

The authors concluded that the central and peripheral thicknesses change significantly when considering the CL power and this has a significant impact on the oxygen transmissibility. Eyecare practitioners must have this fact in account when high power plus or minus lenses are fitted or when continuous wear is considered.

Lira M, Pereira C, Real Oliveira ME, Castanheira EM. Importance of contact lens power and thickness in oxygen transmissibility. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2014 Dec 29. pii: S1367-0484(14)00344-0. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2014.12.002. [Epub ahead of print]