Review of Optometry articles from July 2002

Review of Optometry archives from July 2002

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) began trading its stock on the New York Stock Exchange. (In the News).(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... There's a new corporate player in the ophthalmic marketplace. On July 1, Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) began trading its stock on the New York Stock Exchange. AMO comprises the surgical, cataract implant and contact lens care components...

Paragon Vision Sciences received FDA approval of its Pargon CRT contact lens for corneal refractive therapy. (In the News).(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... Paragon Vision Sciences received FDA approval of its Pargon CRT contact lens for corneal refractive therapy. CRT lenses are worn overnight for corneal reshaping for the temporary reduction of myopia up to +6.00D with up to 1.75D of astigmatism....

Bausch & Lomb says that a federal court ruling will allow it to seek FDA approval for a generic form of brimonidine tartrate. (In the News).(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... Bausch & Lomb says that a federal court ruling will allow it to seek FDA approval for a generic form of brimonidine tartrate. U.S. District Court in California dismissed Allergan Inc.'s claim that B&L's generic drug infringed on its patents....

Santen Inc. (In the News).
July 15, 2002... Americans don't know much about ocular hypertension, according to a national survey conducted by Santen Inc. Only 27% of 2,037 people surveyed have heard of ocular hypertension, and only 7% of them knew that the condition is asymptomatic.

OHTS study: treat high risk patients: the study says preventative therapy delays glaucoma, but is not for everyone. (News Review).
July 15, 2002... Should you simply monitor an ocular hypertensive patient (and risk glaucomatous damage)? Or, should you prescribe prophylactic treatment (and burden the patient with a drug regimen for a painless condition)? The much-anticipated Ocular...

Glaucoma 2002. (News Review).
July 15, 2002... More than 120 optometrists attended Review of Optometry's Glaucoma 2002 conference last month in San Diego. Conference chairman Murray Fingeret, O.D., coordinated the 10-hour CE program that also featured glaucoma specialist Howard Barnebey,...

Georgia won't alter Rx rules for 1-800 contacts. (News Review).(mail-order dispenser law)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... An attempt to loosen Georgia's contact lens regulations to make it easier for mail-order dispensers to sell more contact lenses has failed, but optometrists in the Peachtree State expect the mail-order allies to try again next year. The...

Judge: PureVision contact lens can stay on market--for now. (News Review).(Bausch and Lomb/CIBA Vision patent litagation will not affect marketing)
July 15, 2002... The first contact lenses approved for 30-day wear in more than a decade have become a flourishing part of practice--law practice, that is. In what's sure to be a long, hot summer in the contact lens industry, Bausch & Lomb and CIBA Vision...

ARBO-NBEO merger gets a thumbs down. (News Review).(Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry; National Board of Optometric Examiners )(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... The attempt to merge the organization comprised of optometry's varied licensing boards with the group that administers testing for licensure has faltered. The directors of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) and the...

Glaucoma and stomach ulcer bacteria may be linked. (News Review).(Helicobacter pylori)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... Eradicating a bacterium commonly associated with peptic ulcers may also be an important tool in management of chronic open-angle glaucoma, a new study indicates. Researchers in Greece previously documented a high prevalence of Helicobacter...

No easy choices with glaucoma. (Editor's Page).
July 15, 2002... We could not have picked a better time to go with our annual glaucoma report. You can't pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without reading or hearing about drugs, seniors and glaucoma. As I write this, the House of Representatives has...

Ain't no cure for summertime blues; summer reminds us to get back to basics. Here's one: don't wear a Speedo. (Chairside).
July 15, 2002... In the summer, my thoughts turn from keratoconus to ice cream cones, from conjunctivitis to convertibles, from Medicaid to lemonade. I have a hard time focusing on what patients are focused on. They want to see. I just want to be free! So,...

The irony of the ad and the editorial.(Letter to the Editor)
July 15, 2002... Regarding your Editor's Page, "Time to Reciprocate and Endorse" (April 2002), one only has to look in the classified section of the same issue to see the military's position on optometric licensing. In the "Optometrists Wanted" column, one...

How to stop the HIPPA clock: you can buy some extra time if you apply for an extension. But, act fast. (Management Review).( Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act )
July 15, 2002... The Bush administration has proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. Granted, the privacy regulations are not yet set in stone. Technically,...

Get the most out of e-mail: here's how you, too, can be the Great Communicator. (Technology Review).
July 15, 2002... Ronald Reagan was called the Great Communicator because of his ability to get his message to the people. At your fingertips, you, too, have the tools to become a great communicator. By now, most O.D.s know about e-mail. What many don't know...

Note to the non-compliant: get this through your head; strategies to help you quell the contact lens compliance question. (Opthalmic Lenses).
July 15, 2002... Why can't all patients comply with contact lens care, wear and replacement? You and your technicians talk to them about compliance until your faces turn blue, and still some come back to you with eye problems because they abused their...

How to test for genetic eye mutations: one day, you'll test for a multitude of eye diseases with one little DNA microarray. But we're not there just yet. (Genomics and the Eye: Part 2).
July 15, 2002... In the next decade of your optometric career, you'll probably be performing genetic tests for eye disease right in your office. And you'll carry them out within minutes. But genetic testing in the future helps your patients pitifully...

IOP's oft overlooked twin: co-regulation of ocular pulsatile blood flow is another culprit of glaucomatous damage. Here's what it all means clinically. (8th Annual Glaucoma Report).(intraocular pressure)
July 15, 2002... We've long considered high intraocular pressure as the primary culprit in glaucomatous visual field loss, but recent investigations convince us that inadequate perfusion and ischemic insult to the retinal nerve fiber layer contribute to the...

Why we still reach for beta-blockers first: these authorities on ophthalmic drugs present a cost-saving approach to managing ocular hypertension. (Annual Glaucoma Report).
July 15, 2002... A virtual firestorm of new ocular hypotensive medications has bolstered the potential of our prescription pads to preserve vision. Now, more than ever, we can safely and more easily reduce intraocular pressure to lower the potential for (or...

Take a closer look at the optic nerve: while IOP and other risk factors are important, the most effective diagnosis of glaucoma focuses on a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the optic nerve. (Optometric Study Center).(intraocular pressure)
July 15, 2002... As optometry continues to expand its scope of practice (46 states plus the District of Columbia now allow optometrists to treat glaucoma), we must continue to advance our skills as diagnosticians. This is especially important when you consider...

Recurrent RBON in MS: the indications for treating MS patients have changed in the last several years. (Comanagement Q & A).(retrobulbar optic neuritis; multiple sclerosis)
July 15, 2002... Q: Are intravenous steroids indicated for recurrent retrobulbar optic neuritis (RBON) in a patient with multiple sclerosis?--Angeline McLean, O.D., Indiana A: Controversy surrounds the indications for treating a patient with optic...

20/20 with glare years after PK: there are myriad possible reasons for this patient's photophobia. (Cornea & Contact Lens Q & A).(penetrating keratoplasty)
July 15, 2002... Q: I have a patient who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for a corneal laceration several years ago. She has great uncorrected acuity of 20/20- following suture removal. However, she experiences significant light sensitivity most of the time....

To treat or not to treat? What might the OHTS study indicate when the only symptom is rising IOPs? (Glaucoma Grand Rounds).(Ocular Hypertensive Treatment Study; intraocular pressure)
July 15, 2002... A 39-year-old white male with ocular hypertension for several years demonstrates steadily elevating IOPs with no adverse effects to the optic nerves or visual fields. Recent findings from the Ocular Hypertensive Treatment Study (OHTS) provide...

Numerous lesions throughout pole: visual disturbances, vitritis and epiretinal membrane accompany lesions. (Retina Quiz).(cystoid macular edema)
July 15, 2002... A 46-year-old white female presented complaining of blurred vision O.U., trouble seeing at night and an increase in floaters for the past two years. She also noted that colors did not appear as vivid as they once did. Best-corrected acuity...

Glaucoma: is H. Pylori related? (Therapeutic Forum).
July 15, 2002... New studies show glaucoma patients have a high prevalence of this bacterium. Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease process that we are only beginning to understand completely. The final common pathway of ganglion cell death may be...

Realize the proven success of WildEyes. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... "The market for WildEyes is much greater than most practitioners know," says John Patterson, of Marietta Contact Lens Service, in suburban Atlanta. Each year since the lenses were introduced, this contact lens division of an ophthalmology...

Word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... Some practices invoke the Halloween spirit with costumes and office decorations, but John Janvier, O.D., of Hilton Head Island, SC, takes a more low-key approach. That's not to say he hides his WildEyes lenses. Indeed, there's a WildEyes poster...

Mark your calendar.
July 15, 2002... * JULY-AUGUST--Purchase a diagnostic set and receive a free Halloween promotional merchandising kit. Purchase the 11-lens set of all WildEyes designs for $275. Or purchase a 2-lens set, with zebra and blackout, for $50. You receive: * All...

"Eyes that mesmerize" campaign helps scare up profits. (Advertisment).
July 15, 2002... The "eyes that mesmerize" point-of-purchase (POP) materials are captivating. The bewitching poster, brochure and table tent are sure to beguile existing patients and tantalize passers-by to get the "eyes that mesmerize. Now in its fifth...

Wild-Eyes.com drives patients from web to your chair. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... The new WildEyes web site is befitting the leading brand of costume contact lenses. www.wild-eyes.com presents the brand in an entertaining and interactive package, featuring state-of-the-art animation technology and surprises on each page,...

X-colors add extreme year-round option. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... WildEyes introduces X-colors in 8 strikingly unnatural, attention-getting colors. Patients can pick colors to show their team spirit, accent their holiday outfits or as the ultimate fashion accessory. They are available in dark blue, yellow,...

The indirect ROI of WildEyes. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... Chris Knoop, O.D., of Chicago, reaps direct and indirect benefits by offering WildEyes lenses. First, they attract new patients. At least half of his WildEyes fits are new piano patients, and many patients don't think they need prescription...

WildEyes: not just for Halloween anymore. (Advertisement).
July 15, 2002... Last fall, Amy Endo, of the Aiea, HI, practice of her husband, Edwin Endo, O.D., was struck with a case of what-might-have-been. Having started with WildEyes only in September, she realized how much better sales could have been if they had...

Multi-focus B-scan. (Diagnostic Instruments).
July 15, 2002... The UD-1000 Ultrasound B-scan can help you view and evaluate the retina, capsular angles and posterior chamber. Tomey Corporation was recently granted clearance to sell this instrument in the United States. The UD-1000 performs B-scan...

Retina and anterior seg images. (Diagnostic Instruments).
July 15, 2002... The FDA approved Nidek's new NM-1000 digital non-mydriatic fundus camera for use in capturing images of the retina and the anterior segment of the eye. The NM-1000 provides high-resolution images using a digital progressive scan CCD camera. A...

Fun patches for kids. (Vision Aids).
July 15, 2002... The Orthopad orthoptic patch by Eye Care & Cure Corporation comes in a "fun pack" that features dalmatians, ladybugs, toys and stick figures. The patch is made of the company's monostretch material with a made of the company's mono-stretch...

Nike Flexon Teen Collection. (What's new for back-to-school).
July 15, 2002... Marchons new Nike Flexon Teen Collection of frames features dual-injected temple tips and rubber nose pads to securely grasp the head. The metal frame is offered in oval, narrow oval, progressive rectangle and pillowed rectangle shapes. Style...

Guess? Multiple choice. (What's new for back-to-school).
July 15, 2002... Viva International's new unisex grouping for kids features three lightweight metal frames with spring hinges and adjustable nose pads. Sunglass clips are also available. GU 1097 is a modified square style in colors antique blue, gunmetal...

Fisher-Price Euro 27. (What's New for Back-to-School).
July 15, 2002... ClearVision Optical's new Fisher-Price unisex frame features single action spring hinges and rolled nose pads. Coiled cable temples are optional on this rectangular metal frame. Colors include classic amber, brown or blue. Euro 27 is available...

Ergonomic tears vial. (Vision Aids).
July 15, 2002... Advanced Vision Research introduced a new ergonomically-designed single-use vial for its preservative-free TheraTears Lubricant Eye Drops. A smooth pop-off top and an ergonomic shape makes it easier to use and controls instillation, which may...

Continuous wear compliance. (Contact Lenses).
July 15, 2002... 4 Health Eyes is CIBA Vision's electronic messaging and patient pledge program that aims to encourage compliance with Focus Night & Day silicone hydrogel lenses. The program consists of "pledge" forms that include compliance information, and...

Many more parameters. (Contact Lenses).
July 15, 2002... By expanding cylinder powers, CooperVision has added almost 1,000 additional parameters to its CV Encore Toric contact lens. The 14.4mm diameter lens, with 8.6mm base curve, is now available in cylinder powers up to -2.25D. Sphere powers are...

Fit more astigmats. (Contact Lenses).
July 15, 2002... Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., introduced new plus and high-minus powers for its Acuvue Toric contact lenses. The new plus lenses are available in sphere powers +0.25D to +6.00D in 0.25D steps; cylinder powers are...

New IOL for cataract.
July 15, 2002... Some of your cataract patients may present with a new intraocular lens (IOL). The FDA approved CIBA Vision Surgical's CV232 Square-Round-Edge IOL. The company says you may see improved postoperative results because the posterior square edge of...

A solution for solution. (Contact Lens Care).
July 15, 2002... Cynacon/Ocusoft's new contact lens case, the KabaClip, is designed to clip around the neck of any contact lens solution bottle. Or, patients may attach their KabaClip to a cosmetic bag, backpack or key chain. KabaClip offers a textured surface...

Lens and frame packaging. (Opthalmic Lenses).
July 15, 2002... Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) introduced a new lens and frame packaging option: The Lanvin Lens and Frame Collection. The program offers the entire collection of Lanvin metal and plastic frames combined with ELOA's premium lens...

No more paper records. (Office Systems).
July 15, 2002... Eyecom, a division of HealthLine Systems Inc., released an Electronic Exam Record module for its Windows-based optometric software, Eyecom2. The new module eliminates paper records, the company says. Features of the Electronic Exam module...

Calvin Klein 3-Piece sun. (Sunwear).
July 15, 2002... This new unisex style from Marchon is a lightweight, rimless design without screws. The cK 5000/1 is a narrow rectangle lens available in sizes 51/7-14 and 53/17-145. Colors are indigo with a blue gradient lens and slate with gray gradient...

Carolina Herrera sunwear. (Sunwear).
July 15, 2002... Viva International Group is re-introducing this sunwear collection for women featuring wrap shield designs. CH 1106 is a large plastic square-shaped wrap available in size 67/17-115. Colors are black with a solid dark gray lens, crystal brown...

Nautica sunwear 2002. (Sunwear).
July 15, 2002... The new Marchon collection features lightweight drill mounted wrap lenses. N6520S is an 8-base polarized lens positioned on a nylon-injected frame, in size 71/11-120. Colors are shiny black with G15 lens, shiny burgundy with gray lens, shiny...

What's the damage from car accident? (Diagnostic Quiz).(Brief Article)
July 15, 2002... History A 57-year-old white male presented following an automobile accident in which he suffered closed-head trauma and traumatic brain injury. The patient was referred to the ophthalmology department after his initial care in the...