Review of Optometry articles from April 2006

Review of Optometry archives from April 2006

In the news.(Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions )(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... A new federal bill may eliminate state-enacted protections for eye care and other health benefits. On March 15, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and...

Judge halts N.C. Kids' vision law: meanwhile, politicians are demanding the resignation of house speaker Jim Black, O.D.
April 15, 2006... In mid-March, a superior court judge suspended the recently passed children's vision law in North Carolina. The judge's order prevents the state from enforcing the mandate on children's eye exams until at least July 2007 and prohibits further...

North Carolina optometry school on hold.(University of North Carolina)(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... Plans for the proposed school of optometry at the University of North Carolina's Pembroke campus have been postponed. School officials did not state the reason for this decision. Instead, "UNC Pembroke will focus on the expansion of its...

Uveitis treatment may aid diabetic patients.
April 15, 2006... An intravitreal implant used to treat posterior uveitis also shows promise as a treatment for diabetic macular edema, according to preliminary results. In clinical studies, Bausch & Lomb randomized 197 hospital patients to receive standard...

Studies find cataracts and ocular toxicity associated with cancer treatments.
April 15, 2006... Cataracts and ocular toxicity are linked with cancer treatments, according to two separate studies published in the journal Cancer. (1,2) The first study revealed that patients who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)...

SECO attendance highest since 2001.(Southern Council of Optometrists)
April 15, 2006... Approximately 7,600 optometric professionals attended this year's Southern Council of Optometrists (SECO) meeting in February--a 9.5% increase over last year's meeting and the highest total attendance since the 2001 event, according to a SECO...

Contamination occurs from design of eye drop bottles.
April 15, 2006... About one in 12 preservative-free eye drop bottles could be significantly contaminated, according to a study in February's British Journal of Ophthalmology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology...

Knowledge is power: critics of increased scope of practice might argue that knowledge is power. But on behalf of a publication that seeks to educate, I'd assert that ignorance is far more dangerous.
April 15, 2006... There is so much debate between optometry and ophthalmology--and even between O.D. colleagues--regarding appropriate scope of practice for the profession. Critics of expanded scope of practice argue that optometrists didn't go to "medical"...

Lost and found in Atlanta: 'lost and found' describes my faith in humanity. After I lost my wallet at SECO, I found out that there are truly good people in this world.(Southeast's grandest eye care convention)
April 15, 2006

More on IFIS.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 15, 2006... As Dr. Ajamian points out in December's Comanagement Q & A column ("Flomax Fosters Floppy Iris"), intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) potentially can cause significant and severe complications during cataract surgery. Besides the...

Foster an O.D.-M.D. relationship.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 15, 2006... While eating dinner one evening, my four-year-old son began complaining that his mashed potatoes were touching his chicken. I told him that this was nothing to worry about, but, if he wanted, he could move his chicken to solve his dilemma....

"How do you bill....?".(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 15, 2006... Dear Dr. Dean: Thank you for your timely article, "Bill Your Patients' Medical Insurance (the Right Way)," in the February issue. I had been discussing this very issue with my insurance billing person and had come to a conclusion similar...

O.D.s are entitled too.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
April 15, 2006... I appreciated Dr. Dean's article, "Bill Your Patients' Medical Insurance (the Right Way)," in the February issue. In today's economy, I took the plunge and opened a private practice cold. My goals? Offer patients the best possible care by...

A roundup of 8 recent diagnostic devices: technology is changing rapidly and improving the way we practice. Some of these devices may change our patient care, and some are just cool.
April 15, 2006... In less than three decades, the portable cell phone has shrunken from the size of a lunchbox to the size of a pack of baseball cards. When cell phones were first introduced, only tech-heads who had lots of cash to burn bought them. Now, every...

Upgrading your astigmats: a new way for astigmats to enjoy the advantages of silicone hydrogels.
April 15, 2006... Astigmatic contact lens wearers are in need of our help. Spherical silicone hydrogel lenses have been a growing modality in our practices, and many doctors have embraced the idea that this new generation of lenses is healthier for their...

Are your patients hurting themselves? Self-inflicted traumatic lesions around the face and eyelids are unusual and often overlooked. But, at times, they should be part of your differential diagnosis.(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 15, 2006... The daughter of an 80-year-old female patient recently noticed ulcerated lesions on her mother's face. The eyebrow area, maxilla and area immediately beneath the right nostril were affected. Patches of dermatitis surrounded the sharply...

Life demands stable, high-quality vision. Your guide to delivering incredible stability and acheiving breathtaking vision for astigmatic patients.(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 15, 2006... Introduction Since their introduction 7 years ago, an ever-growing number of eye care practitioners and contact lens patients have discovered the benefits of the new silicone-hydrogel material technologies. The silicone-hydrogel...

Beyond oxygen: the importance of modulus, surface and design; Above a certain threshold, oxygen permeability in contact lenses is not as important as you may think.
April 15, 2006... The premise that a practitioner should always try to fit the contact lens with the highest Dk/t has a stronghold in the hearts and minds of eye care professionals the world over. Recently, more and more researchers are asking themselves: "Is...

Lessons on lupus in the eye: systemic lupus erythematosus involves several ocular manifestations. Learn what you should look for in examinations.(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 15, 2006... Ocular manifestations occur in approximately 15% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, children with SLE may have a higher risk of ocular complications. (1) SLE is a potentially fatal disease that involves...

Managing ocular allergies: how to be more effective.
April 15, 2006... Effectively managing patients with allergies requires an understanding of the underlying science and the ability to apply these concepts. Keep in mind that allergy represents a tremendous opportunity for optometry. It has fueled our...

Understanding the "true value" of ocular allergy.(Optometric practice)
April 15, 2006... The occurrence of ocular allergy within an optometric practice is so commonplace that we often forget both the value we provide to the patient and our practice by treating and prescribing for it. Like other chronic conditions, such as glaucoma,...

New materials advance continuous wear success: here's a look at how silicone hydrogel lenses fit into the elements of successful contact lens wear.(Cover story)
April 15, 2006... For more than 20 years, contact lens researchers and industry sought to develop the complex chemistry that would combine silicone and hydrogel-forming monomers into a copolymer suitable for contact lens applications. Thanks to their efforts,...

When herpes simplex won't go away: keratouveitis in this 84-year-old male required aggressive treatment.(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 15, 2006... An 84-year-old white male presented and reported a film over his right eye for the past 10 days. He denied symptoms of pain or photophobia. His records revealed that earlier in the year, another practitioner successfully treated him for a...

Ocular surface compromise with contact lens wear.(Discussion)
April 15, 2006

Comanagement under fire: a new bill in Georgia reminds us that comanagement can be taken away. In response, we must continue grassroots action to educate legislators.
April 15, 2006... Q In 2001, optometry associations in Florida and Missouri had to fight legislation that would have severely limited comanagement. The bills in both states were defeated, so it seemed like a dead issue. Now, I hear that O.D.s in Georgia had to...

Dry eye gone awry: a patient presents with severe dry eye two years after LASIK. What are her options?(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 15, 2006... Q A patient who underwent LASIK two years ago presented complaining of severe dry eye. She has seen multiple eye care practitioners with no relief. Other than patches of lissamine staining on her bulbar conjunctiva, the eye is relatively quiet....

Does this man have glaucoma? A middle-aged ocular hypertensive seems to be converting to glaucoma. But a newly developed risk calculator implies otherwise.
April 15, 2006

Only seeing eye loses vision: what caused peripapillary atrophy and other unusual fundus findings in the patient's right eye, and how can we prevent further vision loss?
April 15, 2006

Don't get burned: identify products that can cause chemical harm, so you can thwart pain and preclude serious complications.
April 15, 2006

Does CK do OK after LASIK? Preliminary study results show that conductive keratoplasty can improve near vision in postoperative LASIK patients as they become presbyopic.(conductive keratoplasty)(laser in situ keratotomy)
April 15, 2006

Finer/Polisher.(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... The CMX50 Finer/Polisher, from Gerber Coburn, combines optimal processing times with pressures in accordance with your lab's specified materials to deliver precise lenses, the company says. You can process all lens materials, including hi-index...

Trace with Web integration.(Vision Web has certified the Delta-Scan 3D as an approved device )(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... Vision Web has certified the Delta-Scan 3D as an approved device that lets you capture frame, pattern or lens shapes to send a prescription electronically through Vision Web Essential, the Vision Web ordering system, with an attached remote...

Visual Diagnostic System.(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... The EPIC-5100 Vision Diagnostic System from follows in the footsteps of the EPIC-2100, which was designed to carry out accurate and precise refractions and integrates electronically with Marco's automatic chart projector, refractors, and...

Ocular Response Analyzer.(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... The Ocular Response Analyzer, from Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, provides direct measurement of corneal biomechanical properties. This new measurement, called corneal hysteresis (CH), indicates the overall integrity of the cornea and can be...

OCT gets FDA nod.(Exam Equipment)
April 15, 2006... The SL-OCT, from Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, received FDA clearance in February as an optical coherence tomography instrument for cross-sectional anterior segment imaging. The device, which is mounted on a slit lamp, provides noncontact...

Digital fundus camera.
April 15, 2006... The Non-Myd 7 digital fundus camera, from Kowa, is capable of 6.1 mega-pixels of high-resolution photography. The camera offers image storage, 45[degrees] and 20[degrees] angles and three internal fixation target positions. It can be used with...

Acuvue Oasys parameter expansion.(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus, from Vistakon, is now available in 15 expanded parameters, including +0.50 to +4.00D (0.25 steps). The lens comes in an 8.4mm base curve and a 14.0mm diameter. Acuvue Oasys is designed for contact lens...

Silicone hydrogel multifocal.(Contact Lenses)
April 15, 2006... The Pure Vision Multi-Focal, from Bausch & Lomb, combines the company's Soflens multi-focal design with a wide intermediate power profile. This allows for incremental power variance across the optic zone for clear, crisp vision at all...

One-Day color contact lens.(CIBA Vision's FreshLook One-Day color contact lenses )(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... CIBA Vision's FreshLook One-Day color contact lenses feature the company's LightStream technology used to create CIBA Vision's Focus Dailies lenses. Lightstream Technology is a fast, efficient contact lens manufacturing process that allows the...

Keratoconus lens.(Valley Contax)(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... The IKone bi-aspheric keratoconus lens, from Valley Contax, is indicated for patients who have keratoconus-induced acuity and centration problems. The lens is made of Bausch & Lomb's Boston XO material and features an aspheric front; a...

One-Step system.(Valley Contax)(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... The One-Step system, from Sauflon, is a preservative-free, multi-action peroxide, cleaning and disinfecting solution for soft contact lenses. The solution combines a non-ionic cleaner with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and lubricate for the...

Dovie cards.(Gulden Ophthalmics introduces two Dovie card sets)(Brief article)
April 15, 2006... Gulden Ophthalmics introduces two Dovie card sets. Both card sets are pocket-sized, double-sided and color-coded. The Dovie Ophthalmic Drug Card set contains more than 65 of the most commonly used ophthalmic drugs, with information on the...

AR coating.(Ophthalmic Lenses)
April 15, 2006... Crizal Alize with Clear Guard, from Essilor of America, has a hydrophobic coating that allows water and oil to roll off the lens. The lens features the same technology used in plasma-screen televisions to add an integrated anti-particulate...

Free catalog.(OFFICE DESIGN)
April 15, 2006... The new Master Catalog, from Fashion Optical Displays, is a free, 132-page compendium of dispensary designs and furnishing collections. Among them are these new product lines: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * The Oasis, Aspire and Paramount...

Frames from Luxottica.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... The Luxottica Group introduces these new frames: * PR15GV, a Prada women's frame made of zyl plastic in an elongated rectangle shape. It comes in sizes 51/16/135 and 53/16/135 and colors black, olive/moss, brown/demiblonde and plum/aqua....

Savvy Eyewear from Viva International.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... Viva International Group introduces three frames from Savvy Eyewear's Polished Metal grouping for men. * Savvy 273, which has a semi-rimless soft square shape. It comes in size 51/19/145 and colors black, burgundy and light brown. *...

Viva Eyewear from Viva International.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... Viva International Group introduces three new frames from Viva Eyewear's Ladies' Night plastic grouping: * 214, which has a modified oval shape. It comes in sizes 51/14/130 and 53/14/135 and colors pink, blue and brown. [ILLUSTRATION...

Harley-Davidson from Viva International.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... Viva International introduces three new frames from Harley-Davidson Performance Eyewear's Big and Tall grouping for men: * HD 225, which is made of metal and has a square shape. It comes in sizes 51/18/145 and 54/18/145 and in colors...

Guess from Viva International.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... Viva International Group introduces two new monel metal/handmade plastic women's styles from Guess? Inc.: * GU 1392, which has a bow shape, and GU 1393, which has a geometric oval shape. The GU 1392 comes in colors brown, red and purple....

Jill Stuart from Eyewear Designs LTD.(FRAMES)
April 15, 2006... Eyewear Designs LTD introduces six new women's frames from Jill Stewart. All styles have rhinestone on the temple tips: * JS 154, which is made of plastic and has a modified rectangle shape. It comes in sizes 48/16/130 and 50/16/135 and...

Meetings + conferences.(Calendar)
April 15, 2006... May * 4-7. Mountain West Council of Optometrists Annual Congress, Las Vegas. CE hours: 28. Contact Tracy Abel, P.O. Box 1237, Cannon Beach, OR 97110; call (888) 376-6926; fax (503) 738-6617; e-mail tracyabel@earthlink.net; or go to...

Itchy and scratchy.
April 15, 2006

Better vision with customized wavefront-guided spectacle lenses: customized wavefront-guided spectacle correction helps your patients see clearer and builds your practice.(Discussion)
April 15, 2006