Review of Optometry articles from April 2000

Review of Optometry archives from April 2000

Understanding the Pathophysiology of Ocular Allergies.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Allergic conjunctivitis can occur alone, but it most commonly occurs as part of an allergic syndrome associated with symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is often associated with ocular symptoms. In fact, more than half (56%)...

Therapeutics bill in Georgia.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The therapeutics bill in Georgia, reported here last month, was defeated. The Georgia Optometric Association will try again next year.

1-800 Contacts Inc.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Have you noticed your contact lens dispensing slipping? 1-800 Contacts Inc. reported sharply higher sales--$31 million--for its first fiscal quarter. The company attributes growth in part to rising online orders.

William E. Fleischman, O.D.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... William E. Fleischman, O.D., has died. Dr. Fleischman served on dozens of clinical investigative panels and was a frequent lecturer. He was a pioneer in the contact lens field, and his 1968 monovision paper was among the first ever published on...

InSite Vision.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... A new eye drop that halts the growth of leaky blood vessels in retinal degeneration was unveiled by InSite Vision. The active ingredient, batimastat, demonstrated an anti-anglogenic effect in human and animal studies. Clinical trials for...

Wesley Jessen's Tale of Two Mergers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The contact lens industry had its own version of March Madness last month with a dizzying wave of merger mania. Now it's up to Wesley Jessen VisionCare's shareholders to decide between a proposed $900 million merger with Ocular Sciences Inc. or...

Check Your Wallet: VisX Drops Royalty Fee for LASIK.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... What happens now that VisX has reduced the per-procedure royalty fee for its STAR excimer laser by 60%? It depends on whom you talk to, but it could be like throwing gasoline on the already-heated price competition among refractive laser...

Pseudomonas Strain Stirs Debate Over Solution.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Have you heard the news that ReNu multipurpose solution has little effect on a resistant and virulent strain of Pseudomonas? It was published recently in a non-refereed contact lens magazine and picked up in the lay press. But it's a...

Study Confirms Women More Vulnerable to Dry Eye.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... In the largest-ever study of its kind, researchers at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital looked at the prevalence of dry eye among some 48,000 health professionals nationwide. The study confirms what optometrists have long known...

Blacks Receive Less Glaucoma Surgery.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Blacks with glaucoma are about half as likely as whites to undergo argon laser trabeculoplasty, even though African-Americans are six times more likely to develop the disease, a team of researchers at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute reports....

AMA's Losing Battle.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The American Medical Association declared Georgia "ground zero" in its battle against non-medical doctors prescribing therapeutic drugs. For the time being, they've won. That is, legislation that would have allowed Georgia O.D.s to prescribe...

Belated Resolutions for Y2K.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... At this point in 2000, most "normal" people have already left their New Year's resolution to lose 10 pounds in a cloud of chocolate and pancake syrup. I, on the other hand, like to hold off committing myself to any hasty resolutions. So I wait...

LETTERS & E-MAIL.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Good Call on Angle Closure, Not so on Computer User Editor: In your January 2000 issue, Dr. Chris Quinn did a nice review in his Therapeutic Forum column "How to Break an Acute Angle Closure Attack." I used to treat angle closure with...

Play the Contact Lens Card.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... As ever more employers offer vision coverage, chances are you'll start to see even more patients in your practice. While the prospect of more third-party patients may seem as appealing as a case of ulcerative keratitis, you can still grow your...

Your Fix for Information Junkies.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Pretty much everybody and their dog has a web site these days, but it's not easy getting one. A good web site takes planning. The best web designers spend twice as much time planning their sites as they do producing them. If you plan well,...

The Entrepreneurial O.D. Show Patients You Really, Really Care.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... We've all heard that to succeed under managed care, we must shorten our exams. That means we must delegate more tasks and fully utilize automated instruments. But how do we do this and not make our patients feel like they're simply another pair...

Glass Works An Untapped Niche.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... All kinds of high myopes can benefit from high index, glass lenses. But only doctors can prescribe them. Here's a niche that many O.D.s overlook. A high-myope contact lens wearer was in a restaurant one evening when she saw a woman sitting...

Staging a Comeback the Private-Pay Way.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Doctors and staff at this high-volume contact lens practice didn't realize they were turning away private-pay patients at a time when they needed them the most. By all appearances, Patterson Eye Clinic was a busy and prosperous...

Getting a Better Read on Tonometry.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Researchers are learning more about corneal thickness and intraocular pressure readings. Recent findings also show that IOPS are highest at night. A 51-year-old white male presented for evaluation of his glaucoma status. He had no family...

Will the HMO Beast Grow New Fangs?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Here's how managed care may sink its teeth deeper into your practice in the next 10 years. When optometrist Linda Bennett opened her Boston-area practice 14 years ago, she had few worries about managed care. She saw a handful of Vision...

How to Win this Allergy Season.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Here's a game plan to keep your patients in their lenses. Some 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. By now you've probably seen many allergy patients in your practice. Each of us deals with allergies in our contact lens patients. How...

What's Behind Those Red, Watery Eyes.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Understanding the hypersensitivity response is critical to keeping your patients in their contact lenses. The body's immune response to an offending allergen sets off the cascade of events that result in red, itchy, watery eyes. The...

Drops to Prevent Dropouts.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Here's what and how to prescribe for allergy patients who wear contact lenses. Mild allergic reactions respond well to the time-honored regimen of cold compresses and artificial tears. But in moderate to severe allergic reactions, the...

A Menu of Lens-Wear Options For Allergy-Prone Patients.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The right material, wearing schedule or care regimen may make all the difference. Three Out of four allergy sufferers who wear contact lenses report discomfort with lens wear. [1] There's no sidestepping this thorny clinical issue. When...

How to Deal With Fractures and Penetrations.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... In this second of two parts, an expert on ocular trauma discusses your role in cases of orbital fracture or penetration of the globe. Most cases of ocular injury are manageable once you gauge the extent of the problem and marshal the means...

Intacs for a Keratocone: A Promising New Option?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... In the first case of its kind in the United States, off-label implantation of KeraVision's intracorneal rings improved vision from 20/160 to 20/25 in the operative eye. A 49-year-old white man with a previous diagnosis of keratoconus came...

Performing Punctal Occlusion on LASIK Patients.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The number-one side effect of LASIK? Dry, itchy and gritty eyes. But did you know that punctal occlusion -- which you can perform either before or after your patient's refractive surgery -- may virtually eliminate this annoying condition?...

Epiphora Unplugged.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Q I can usually identify pseudoepiphora. For true epiphora, what are the best tests to determine the patency of the lacrimal drainage system? A As you indicate, pseudo-epiphora is not too difficult to uncover. Simply ask the patient, "Are...

Vaulting to Success on Post-PKP Fits.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Q When fitting RGPs on a post-op corneal transplant patient, should the lens be larger than the graft?--Karlit Wong, O.D., Red Deer, Alberta. A Yes. "The old literature suggested it might be better to fit within the borders of the graft,...

When a Diabetic Patient Presents With Neovascular Glaucoma.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... A 75-year-old white male was referred to us with elevated intraocular pressures, significant decrease in peripheral vision over time and an associated loss of central acuity. He had mild arthritis and a 35-year history of diabetes. His current...

Why Four Maps Are etter Than One.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The evolution of refractive surgery brings a growing sophistication in the instruments used for laser vision correction. An important part of this project is the ability to obtain detailed information about the corneal surface and its...

Trying to Save One Good Eye.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... A 26-year-old engineer presented for an evaluation of her left eye. She reported reduced acuity in the right eye after having several laser treatments 2 years ago. She is nearsighted with no visual complaints in her left eye. The patient...

Be Heart-Smart When Treating the Eye.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... What's your first choice of therapy for treating primary open angle glaucoma? If you're thinking beta-blockers, you're in good company. Today's standard-of-practice for optometrists is to use a non-selective beta-blocker as the first line agent...

This Retinoscope Is Right On.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The newest addition to the Keeler Instruments family is the Professional COMBI retinoscope, 30% brighter than its predecessor, the SR Infinity retinoscope. Now the brightest retinoscope on the market, it also features a double checking...

Analyze This.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... For earlier glaucoma detection, the Paradigm Blood Flow Analyzer provides a wealth of information about the vascular network in the eye. One test provides you with both numeric and graphic data. This includes pulse amplitude, rate and...

The Ease of NCTs.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The AT550 automated non-contact tonometer is now available from Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments. With no chin rest, joystick or elevation controls, Reichert says the AT550 has the softest air puff available and an extremely quiet operation. It...

Large-Field, Illuminated Magnifiers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... New illuminated stand magnifiers from Eschenbach make reading, handwriting, check signing, and other tasks less of a chore for low vision patients. With high powers and large fields of view, these magnifiers feature a fluorescent light which...

Designer Displays.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The New Designer Series Tiburon is available from Fashion Optical Displays, one of a complete line of dispensary furnishing solutions. These dispensary furnishings are offered in a wide variety of colorful laminates, hardwoods, and a choice...

Clear at Distance and Near.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... MagniClear RGP contact lenses from Art Optical are the first presbyopic corrections that combine the clear distance optics of a spherical lens, the visual performance of a multifocal and the near power of a bifocal by using a front-surface...

Biocompatibles Bonds Patients to Your Practice.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Biocompatibles's 1-Stop Program is designed to maximize patient retention by offering savings to those who buy contact lenses directly through their practitioner. Patients can obtain Proclear Compatibles, a 1-month daily wear lens, through...

CooperVision's Total Toric Solution.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The Total Toric Solution from CooperVision is a complete system of products and services aimed at making treatment of astigmatic patients easier. Based on lifestyle and eye-care needs, the Total Toric Solution offers a wide range of toric...

Refresh-ing Comfort Drops.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Allergan has launched Refresh Contacts Comfort Drops, an electrolyte-balanced artificial tear that uses the same technology that goes into Refresh brand eye drops. Refresh Contacts features a carboxymethylcellulose formula that mimics the...

The 10-Minute Solution.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The FDA has approved SOLO-care from CIBA Vision as the first one-bottle, multi-purpose solution for 10-minute cleaning and disinfecting of soft and rigid gas permeable lenses. CIBA Vision says the 10-minute regimen is as effective as a 4-hour...

Calvin Klein's New Finds.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Gradual layers of colors highlight Calvin Klein's spring sunwear collection. Brown-into-topaz, tortoise-into-black and blue-into-topaz make style 735/736S distinctive. With Italian zyls, soft-sculptural and stretched oval or rectangular...

Step up to Stetson Country.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Zyloware is releasing these three new Stetson Country frames for spring. They feature a narrow rectangular shape, available in matte black, gunmetal and brown; a narrow modified oval in gold, gunmetal and tortoise/antique gold; and an oval in...

Time for Timex.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Kenmark Optical and Timex have joined forces to launch Timex Optical Eyewear, a new line for the new millennium. Incorporating a wide range of today's most popular styles, Timex Optical hopes to gain recognition in the eyewear arena. Among...

Edgy Eyewear on the Verge.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... Safilo USA has introduced a new eyewear collection, Verge, geared towards the trendiest of the 20-something set. These are small styles featuring thin profiles with micro-shapes, three-piece mounts with tinted lenses and a new micro-hinge....

Blending Fashion with Safety.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... The EX272 prescription safety frame is the latest entry in Titmus Optical USA's Exclusive Collection. With a metal unisex design, the frame features an oval shape, designer bridge, high-posted end pieces and new monobloc spring hinge temples....

Bringing Versa-tility To Windows Systems.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... VersaSuite 3.0, developed by Universal Software Solutions, is a Windows 95/98- and NT-compatible office automation system. Combined with the VersaVision ophthalmic practice management package, the VersaSuite system totals seven modules that...

Stubborn 'Pink Eye' Requires Attention.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 15, 2000... A 24-year-old woman presented to the clinic with a chief complaint of "severe pink eye" for the past week. The photo shows what she looked like. She had no history of prior ocular disease, injury or surgery. Her systemic history likewise was...

Your Guide to Diagnosing Ocular Allergies.
April 15, 2000... Clinical presentations can vary widely. Here's how to trace the complex path of allergic reactions and properly diagnose your patient's symptoms. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic conjunctivitis or rhinoconjunctivitis,...

When Patients Self-Medicate Their Ocular Allergy Symptoms.
April 15, 2000... Many ocular allergy sufferers initially self-diagnose their conditions and rely on over-the-counter medications and other palliative measures for relief. Just how useful are they? For some patients, staying in an air-conditioned room, cold...

When to Begin Prescribing for Ocular Allergies.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... By the time patients invest the time and money to see you, they'll expect a quick and effective solution. We asked our panelists to discuss when and why they decide to prescribe a medication because palliative efforts and over-the-counter...

Selecting the Most Effective Therapy.
April 15, 2000... Our panelists agree that suppressing the release of histamine receptors and stabilizing mast cells is the most effective way to therapeutically manage ocular allergies. Although our panelists do not object to non-prescription ocular...

When Should You Refer a Patient to an Allergist?(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... If the patient experiences seasonal allergic rhinitis or other systemic symptoms in addition to ocular allergy, refer him to a primary care physician or an allergist. If your patient's ocular allergy symptoms are short-term -- lasting,...

Developing the 'Next Generation' Allergy Product.(Patanol)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... Find out what our panelists would like to see in the allergy medication of the future. In Patanol (olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1%), you have a dual-action drug that works in minutes and lasts all day, and that is safe for children over 3...

Key Take-Away Points.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... A roundup of our panelist's diagnosis and treatment pearls. * The pathophysiology of allergic conjunctivitis relates very highly to the same process as seasonal and/or perennial allergic rhinitis. A significant number of patients experience...

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Ocular Allergies.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... Ashish Pal Dear Doctor: Both in terms of the patients who suffer it and the practitioners who treat it, allergic conjunctivitis is a far-reaching problem. Consider: * An estimated 20% of the general population suffer from allergic...

Biographical sketches of the practitioners who participated in the roundtable discussion on ocular allergies.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2000... Bobby J. Christensen, O.D., F.A.A.O. Midwest City, Okla. Dr. Christensen is the past-president of the Heart of America Contact Lens Society and a diplomate of the American Optometric Association's Cornea and Contact Lens Section. He is...