Review of Optometry articles from June 2004

Review of Optometry archives from June 2004

Alcon's generic affiliate, Falcon Pharmaceuticals, received FDA approval for a generic version of ofloxacin.(In the News)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Alcon's generic affiliate, Falcon Pharmaceuticals, received FDA approval for a generic version of ofloxacin. Alcon says the generic drug is therapeutically equivalent to Allergan's brand-name Ocuflox.

HIPAA alert: As of July 1, electronic Medicare claims that are not HIPAA compliant will be automatically delayed by two weeks.(In the News)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... HIPAA alert: As of July 1, electronic Medicare claims that are not HIPAA compliant will be automatically delayed by two weeks. Medicare officials expect the payment delay to serve as a reminder that eventually electronic claims that don't meet...

A diet with a higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fat appears to raise the risk of primary open angle glaucoma, particularly high-tension POAG.(In the News)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... A diet with a higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fat appears to raise the risk of primary open angle glaucoma, particularly high-tension POAG. This comes from a study from Brigham & Women's Hospital that analyzed subjects in the...

Ista Pharmaceuticals has filed a new drug application with the FDA for Xibrom (bromfenac).(In the News)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Ista Pharmaceuticals has filed a new drug application with the FDA for Xibrom (bromfenac). Ista says Xibrom is a topical, twice-daily, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that treats ocular inflammation following cataract surgery.

Oklahoma law changes nothing: ophthalmologists cry foul over scope-of-practice act that adds nothing new.(News Review)
June 15, 2004... In late April, Oklahoma passed a new law (HB 2321) that clarifies optometric scope of practice. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In response, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) announced that "optometrists are now permitted to perform...

New AOA president discusses optometric summit and O.D. ban by AAO.(News Review)
June 15, 2004... New AOA president Wesley E. Pittman, O.D., who will be sworn in on June 26 at the 107th Annual AOA Congress and 34th Annual AOSA Conference in Orlando, Fla., has plans to create an optometric summit that will prepare optometrists for the...

Computer-based vision therapy sets sights on U.S.(News Review)
June 15, 2004... A new device, approved by the FDA in April 2003, has shown success in restoring the visual fields of some patients. The treatment's acceptance in the United States remains to be seen. The NovaVision VRT is a computer-based vision...

Do AMD and cataract shorten patients' lives?(News Review)(Age-related macular degeneration )
June 15, 2004... Age-related macular degeneration and cataract rob people of their sight, but do these conditions also shorten their lives? They very well may, investigators from the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group report in the May...

Vermont becomes 49th glaucoma state.(News Review)
June 15, 2004... On May 11th, the state of Vermont adopted a new optometric scope-of-practice act into law, making it the 49th state to allow O.D.s at least some ability to treat glaucoma. The law, which takes effect July 1, allows optometrists in the state to...

First O.D. retina meeting a success.(News Review)(Optometric Retina Society )
June 15, 2004... The first educational meeting of the Optometric Retina Society (ORS), held in Boston from April 16-18, brought together optometrists interested in the latest retinal research. Close to 200 optometrists attended. "It was very exciting to...

Struggling to stay ahead of dry eye disease.(Advertisement)
June 15, 2004... What does dry eye disease (DED) mean to your patients? Burning. Itching. Persistent irritation. Photophobia. Pain. Vision disturbances. (1) DED affects millions in the United States alone, with many of them experiencing frequent dry eye....

How to repay our heroes: provide military personnel with individualized care and more of your time.(Editor's Page)(Editorial)
June 15, 2004... I confess: I am a Martha Stewart wanna-be--minus the orange jumpsuit, of course. Martha taught me all of the really important things in life--like how to decorate a Christmas tree, how to skewer asparagus for even grilling and how to word a...

The truth is out there ... And so are many of your patients ... Way, way out there.(Chairside)
June 15, 2004... There are some things you can count on. There are some things that are, well, just plain true. In optometry, I hold these truths to be self-evident: * If the office is closed on a weekday, when you get back the next day you will find a fax...

What's your dress code?(Letters & E-mail)
June 15, 2004... The article "Is It Time to Hang Up the White Coat?" (March, 2004) brought back memories of my days at the Pacific University School of Optometry. In 1960, there was a debate about changing the prevailing white, Mandarin-style clinic jacket with...

Fair and balanced?(Letters & E-mail)
June 15, 2004... Fair and balanced? I hope Fox News does not object to using their tag line, but this is the question left begging after reading your article entitled "Orthokeratology Endangers Children?" (News Review, March 2004). Indeed, this IS a good...

Focus on the profession.(Letters & E-mail)
June 15, 2004... Have we forgotten who we are? The March 2004 issue of Review dealt practically exclusively with disease management. Is this what optometrists do on a daily basis? Many years ago, optometry grew out of jewelry stores. Jewelers always needed...

Volunteering too time consuming?(Letters & E-mail)
June 15, 2004... Most optometrists would love the chance to volunteer, but find the time commitment away from their practices and families a huge hurdle. In Eugene, Oregon, we have found an efficeient way to help. The Whitebird Medical Clinic provides low...

Serving those who serve our country: our armed forces face a slew of conditions that can be detrimental to their vision, but we can prepare them for the ocular perils of war.(Ophthalmic Lenses)
June 15, 2004... An article that appeared in the April 27, edition of the European magazine Stars and Stripes brings home the very real dangers our soldiers face with their eyes. The article, titled "Eye Injuries Devastate Troops In Iraq, But Can Be...

Match the lens with the lifestyle: your patients have varying lifestyle needs. Now, it's up to you to determine which lenses meet those needs.(Ophthalmic Lenses)
June 15, 2004... When asked to discuss a memorable case of matching a pair of ophthalmic lenses to a patient's lifestyle, optometrist Carl Gaterbaum of Orlando Eye Associates fondly recalls the case of Bobby, a 10-year-old boy who was transformed from a poor...

Dry eye: signs vs. symptoms; Diagnostic tests for dry eye are often unreliable. Can you bank on symptoms for treatment?(Patient Care)
June 15, 2004... Confused about dry eye? You're in good company. In late April, optometrist Carolyn Begley sat at the "Symptoms" table among other international researchers at a dry eye symposium. Other dry eye experts at the symposium, held at the Association...

The importance of optometry in co-managing refractive surgery.
June 15, 2004... Optometry's role has evolved over the past few decades. In the evolution of refractive surgery, first with PRK in the mid 1990s and now with LASIK, the optometrist has become the gatekeeper for most patients who are good candidates for...

Give patients a new view of the world ... and themselves: from correcting surgical mishaps to creating super-villains, cosmetic contact lenses let you do more than simply change a patient's eye color.(Contact Lenses)
June 15, 2004... Consider: A patient presents to your office and asks for a contact lens to conceal a birth defect. She has a disfigured, incomplete, non-sighted eye that is smaller than the fellow eye (see figures 1 and 2). The challenge is to fit a lens that...

New diagnostic devices in eye care: these new instruments--some you may not have heard of--may drastically alter our patient care.(Technology)
June 15, 2004... Recent advances in technology have brought about many new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. These devices have the potential to dramatically improve our efficiency and ability to properly diagnose and treat our patients. Some...

Correct contact lens complications: here's a review of the most common problems that occur with contact lens wear and how we can treat them.(Optometric Study Center)(Cover Story)
June 15, 2004... While many complications may occur with contact lens wear, most are minor and reverse quickly without causing permanent injury when contact lens wear is modified or discontinued. Also, improved contact lens materials and designs have reduced...

Cancer treatment impairs dark adaptation: medication causes difficulty in this patient's ability to adjust to varying light conditions.(Case Report)
June 15, 2004... A 77-year-old white male presented for a glaucoma follow-up visit and complained of a slowed ability to adjust from light to dark. He reported no decrease in vision. The patient's ocular history is positive for primary open-angle glaucoma...

Severe pain requires equally severe measures: retrobulbar chlorpromazine injection helped this elderly patient when conservative therapy failed.(Case Report)
June 15, 2004... The urgent care department of the local hospital referred an 85-year-old white male with acute pain in his left eye. The patient reported waking up in the middle of the night with severe pain in the eye. This was the first time he noticed pain...

Are vitamins good medicine? Or, can some supplements be problematic for your patients?(Comanagement Q & A)
June 15, 2004... Q Vitamins and other supplements are gaining popularity for patients at high risk of progressing to advanced age-related macular degeneration and possibly preventing or treating other ocular disorders. Are there drug interactions or...

Did striae cause vision loss? If so, what treatments are effective five years out?(Cornea & Contact Lens Q & A)
June 15, 2004... Q I have a new patient who had LASIK five years ago and has a significant decrease in best-corrected vision. I suspect macrostriae, but how can I be sure? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A First, perform a meticulous refraction. "That's going...

Vision loss became a yearlong event: the patient wanted a second opinion about the reduced visual acuity in his left eye.(Retina Quiz)
June 15, 2004... A 62-year-old white male presented for a second opinion about the decreased vision in his left eye. He said that his vision loss occurred suddenly one year ago without pain and has not improved since then. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] His...

Keep an eye toward the nose: these treatments can help stop the charge of rhinoconjunctivitis.(Therapeutic Review)
June 15, 2004... As optometrists, we routinely treat patients who have rhinoconjunctivitis. But, while we have been trained to examine and treat the eye, we must not overlook the debilitating nasal symptoms of this allergic reaction. Here, we'll review...

Surgeons dig deep to treat Fuchs': DLEK offers those with endothelial disease an alternative to a full corneal transplant.(Research Review)
June 15, 2004... For patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, the ultimate means of restoring visual acuity has been penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). So, even though only the bottom layer of the cornea contains diseased tissue, the patient would require...

Anti-glare.(Ophthalmic Lenses)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... KODAK Precise Progressive PolarShades lenses are the latest offering from Signet Armorlite. PolarShades lenses are produced with in-mold technology that allows for precise placement of the polarizing film. The company says this process also...

Extra power.(Contact Lenses)(Hydrogel Vision Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Hydrogel Vision Corp.'s Extreme [H.sup.2]O G60 S-Xtra lens is now available in both a steeper base curve and in plus powers. The G60 S-Xtra lens was originally designed for patients who needed a lens that's easy to handle. The company says the...

Taking control.(Diagnostic Aids)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Gulden Ophthalmics designed a phoropter accessory to help patients turn the axis knob to verify they are achieving the sharpest vision. The axis knob is often difficult for arthritic patients to grasp and patients can easily confuse the axis...

Going digital.(Diagnostic Aids)(Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments )(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The new PDM Digital PD Meter from Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments utilizes new technology for measuring interpupillary distance and right/left pupil-to-nose distance. You can obtain measurements for one or both eyes, and measure interpupillary...

Inspection and finishing.(In-Office Lab)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Gerber Coburn has added the Dimetrix Lens Inspection and Finish Blocker to its line of inspection devices. The new instrument combines automatic finish blocking and lens power inspection. Wavefront PowerMAP technology is employed for lens power...

Maximum upgrade.(Practice Management)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... MaximEyes 6.0 is the latest version of First Insight Corporation's eye care practice management and electronic medical record-keeping software. This new version features these four functions: * Documents. Choose from a variety of exam forms...

The importance of eye health.(Patient Education)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... A new book, How to Have Healthy Eyes for Life (Hudson Mills Press, 2004), by Paul Ernest, M.D., and Michael Wallace, O.D., explains the importance of proper ocular health to your patients. The authors present easy-to-follow steps for enjoying...

Dry eye.(Patient Education)(Lacrimedics)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Lacrimedics offers two new tools to help you and your patients gain a better understanding of dry eye syndrome better. The new Revised Symptoms Checklist helps patients document subjective symptoms prior to, and during occlusion therapy with...

Understanding genomics.(Practitioner Education)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has released a DVD that details how genomics will affect optometry. The Genome Project--Its Revolutionary Impact on Optometric Practice discusses the importance of medical genomics and...

Optical drug reference.(New on the Web)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... An online pharmaceutical reference designed by optometrists for eye care professionals is available at www.eyedock.com. This free service lets you search for information on topical ophthalmic drugs by generic or trade name, class of drug or...

Online marketing.(New on the Web)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Transitions Optical has added new features to its Transitions Online Marketing Tool (TOM). These include templates to create customized Yellow Pages ads, an advertising tips section and increased postcard/direct mail options. You can also...

New and improved.(New on the Web)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The Volk Optical Web site, www.volk.com, has been redesigned to better meet visitors' needs. The company says the new site features a faster loading time, easier navigation and more advanced security. You can research, compare and purchase...

Colorful options.(Optical Dispensing)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Breitfield & Schliekert has added two new colors to its popular line of Len Deco Pens. There are now 15 different colors to choose from to personalize frames. The newest colors are Blue Mist and Bordeaux. For a limited time, you can purchase a...

Correction.(Product Review)(Correction Notice)
June 15, 2004... In the April 2004 Product Review, the pictures and text for two products were mistakenly interchanged. The image shown as Talia Technology's 3D Anatomy Imager is actually a picture of the AL500 Auto Lensometer from Reichert Ophthalmic...

Auto Lensometer.(Product Review)(Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The vertically-oriented design of the AL500 Auto Lensometer, from Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, saves space in your exam lane. You can tilt the high-contrast, color LCD screen for glare-free viewing while seated or standing. Additional...

3-D imagery.(Product Review)(Talia Technology)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The 3-D Anatomy Imager, powered by Talia Technology's RTA (retinal thickness analyzer), reconstructs a 3-D volume visualization of a 3X3mm area of the retina according to your specifications. The section is automatically overlaid on the...

Guess?(Ophthalmic Frames)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Viva International introduces a new semi-rimless group of ophthalmic frames from Guess? Eyewear. Each is made of stainless steel and features a split temple design. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * GU 1213 is a rectangle frame in colors like...

Brooks Brothers.(Ophthalmic Frames)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Four new metal styles and two plastic style frames are part of Luxottica's new Brooks Brothers' ophthalmic collection. * Metal frames. BB 318, a nylon-mount, and BB 319, a full-rim metal, are interpretations of the straight brow look. Both...

Titmus Optical.(Ophthalmic Frames)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... The EXT10 is Titmus Optical's latest addition to its Titanium collection of safety eyewear. This frame for men features a wire-contoured rim and spring-hinged temples in lightweight, strong titanium. Colors dark brown matte and dark gunmetal...

Harley Davidson.(Ophthalmic Frames)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... Two new optical sun styles have been added to Viva International's Harley-Davidson eyewear line. HDS 391 and HDS 392 both sport a modified rectangle shape in handmade acetate plastic. Additional features include a laser-engraved Harley-Davidson...

Meetings & conferences.(Calendar)
June 15, 2004... June * 23-27. American Optometric Association's 107th Annual Congress, Orlando, Fla. CE hours: 180. Contact Anne Barry, AOA, 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141; call (314) 991-4100; fax (314) 991-4101; e-mail annbarry@theaoa.org;...

Cluster of grapes in the retina.(Diagnostic Quiz)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2004... History A 13-year-old white female presented for a "routine" eye examination. She had no ocular complaints and reported no pertinent ocular or systemic history. She reported no allergies and denied taking any medications. ...

Basic soft lens fitting.
June 15, 2004... Success as a contact lens fitter depends not only on developing one's expertise in fitting lenses, but on selecting suitable candidates, instructing them thoroughly on safe wear and care, and providing regular follow-up to ensure that...

Fitting soft toric lenses.
June 15, 2004... Toric soft lenses, once considered specialty lenses that were fit by only a small percentage of practitioners, have entered the mainstream. Cast molding technology has transformed soft torics from the expensive "snowflake" lenses (no two the...

Fitting soft bifocal contact lenses.
June 15, 2004... Chances are you see a presbyope or emerging presbyope every fourth patient or so. Baby Boomers are now between the ages of 40 and 58, and they represent about a quarter of the U.S. population. Meeting the visual needs of this patient group can...