Review of Optometry articles from March 2002

Review of Optometry archives from March 2002

1-800 Contacts sues optometrist: Californian O.D. and lawyer draws ire from mail order contact lens giant. (News Review).(Craig Steinberg)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... You'd think a corporate giant would pick on someone its own size. Nevertheless, 1-800 Contacts has filed suit against optometrist and lawyer Craig Steinberg, of Van Nuys, Calif. The company accuses Dr. Steinberg of inducing a former lawyer...

Correction: Setting the record straight on ASCO. (News Review).(Association of Schools and College of Optometry )(Correction Notice)
March 15, 2002... The News Review article "ARBO and NBEO Consider Merger" in the February issue (page 4) misstated three facts regarding the Association of Schools and College of Optometry (ASCO). The correct information: * ASCO is an independent...

Bausch & Lomb. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Bausch & Lomb has dropped its attempt to block the launch of CIBA Vision's Focus Night & Day contact lenses, says Stephen J. Osbaldeston, president of CIBA Vision's North American Lens Business. In a suit filed last year in U.S. District Court...

Jacques Stoerr. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Jacques Stoerr has retired as chairman of the board for Essilor. Among his achievements, Mr. Stoerr is credited as the man who brought progressive lenses to the United States.

Samter Journalism Award. (In the News).
March 15, 2002... Review of Optometry has received the Samter Journalism Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The article, "Lose the Cat... and Other Pearls Allergists Suggest" (March 2001), authored by editor-in-Chief Rich...

Biocompatibles Eye Care Inc. (In the News).(acquisition by CooperVision Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... CooperVision has completed its acquisition of Biocompatibles Eye Care Inc., the contact lens business of Biocompatibles plc. The Cooper Companies Inc. said the purchase price was about $97 million plus a yet undetermined amount for transaction...

Targeting IOP: Low goals necessary to save sight.(intraocular pressure)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Controlling elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) has long been the mainstay of glaucoma therapy. While scientists work to better understand glaucoma itself--an understanding that could lead to a cure--ophthalmologists manage the disease via its...

Optician faces charges for posing as an O.D. (News Review).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... What dispenses eyeglasses and runs faster than a jackrabbit? An optician trying to escape arrest for posing as an optometrist. The Florida State Health Department has charged David A. Cantor, a Boynton Beach optician, with unlicensed...

Ophthalmic meds at discount for Medicare recipients. (News Review).(Novartis Ophthalmics )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Novartis Ophthalmics has launched a program to provide Medicare recipients with discounted prescription drugs. The free Novartis Care Card will give patients a 25% discount off the wholesale price (which is about 25-40% of retail) of covered...

California sues Pearle for practicing without a license. (News Review).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... California's Attorney General filed suit against Pearle Vision and its founder, Stanley Pearle, O.D., alleging that they've engaged in the unlicensed practice of optometry as well as used deceptive marketing and unfair business practices. ...

Do industry ties influence patient care guidelines? (News Review).(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
March 15, 2002... As optometry's scope of practice continues to expand, it's only logical for O.D.s to serve as consultants to industry. But do these relationships influence what becomes accepted practice guidelines for the care of your patients? A study in...

M.D.s object, but SUNY pushes ahead with ASC. (News Review).(State University of New York State College of Optometry )(ambulatory care surgical center )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Despite opposition from the local ophthalmologists, the State University of New York State College of Optometry is moving ahead with plans to build an ambulatory care surgical center within the University Optometric Center. SUNY first...

Now you know. (News Review).
March 15, 2002... To let you know which articles in Review of Optometry are peer-reviewed, we've started placing this icon on title pages of our clinical articles. All clinical features, case reports, Optometric Study Centers and sponsored continuing...

Time to knock on that door. (Editor's Page).(part 3)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 15, 2002... Editor's note: This is the third in a series of editorials on the future direction of optometry. For peace to happen, somebody must risk the first step. Somebody must take a deep breath and give peace a chance. In Chicago in 1993,...

It's not easy being green: And I'm not talking about waking up the morning after St. Patrick's day. (Chairside).(waste minimization)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... When I say "Get green," what do you think I mean? I could be referring to the time I tasted sea urchin on one of my many sushi forays in between my hours of CE at some exotic locale. This stuff was slimy and tasted like...like sea urchin....

The long, ugly battle for truth: We must watch our backs for those who speak ill of optometry behind them. (Another Perspective).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... True friends will say unpleasant things about you to your face. Your enemies will say the same things, or worse, behind your back. I've often pondered this odd dissimilarity. From a friend, a less-than-pleasant thought is actually an...

A trio of amens on reciprocity. (Letters & E-Mail).
March 15, 2002... Amen to Dr. Art Epstein's views on reciprocity (Another Perspective, "Reciprocity Can Move Us Forward," January 2002). I was unhappy with this situation in the 1970s when I was in school, and it's no better now. I have personally had to...

Understanding dual-action medications. (Alcon Challenge Series).(Alcon Laboratories Inc.)
March 15, 2002... Welcome to the alcon challenge series. this is the first in a series of articles, supported by a giant from alcon laboratories, inc., that will gather some of the leading clinicians in ocular allergy to focus on the challenges inherent in...

Solve the UV puzzle for your patients: Here's how to talk to your patients about the harmful effects of the sun. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(ultraviolet radiation)
March 15, 2002... Ultraviolet radiation. You can't smell it or hear it. But you can see and feel it and its effects on sunburned faces, backs and arms. Sunburn anywhere on the body, including the eyes, can be painful, sometimes debilitating. The undesirable...

Building the practice: Part I Aspirin for your declaration of independence; If you're thinking about opening a new practice, these pearls can save you headaches. (Practice Management).
March 15, 2002... If you're an employed O.D., there may come a time when you ask yourself: "Am I satisfied with the path my career is taking? Dare I leave the comfort and stability of a job to take on the costly, uncertain world of independent practice?" ...

Should this child have an eye exam? A debate is raging whether children's vision exams are necessary or affordable as a mandated public health policy. (News Analysis).
March 15, 2002... Last year, Kentucky began a statewide mandate that requires all children entering school to get an eye exam. In the past two years, at least eight other states have considered similar legislation. Like Kentucky, shouldn't all states require...

Make scleral depression an uplifting Experience: You may not do it every day, these clinicians and instructors share how you can make it look like you do. (Diagnostic Instruments).
March 15, 2002... In his bellwether textbook, Primary Care of the Posterior Segment, Larry J. Alexander, O.D., likens scleral indentation to "rubbing one's stomach and patting one's head at the same time." That's because it involves two hands--one to hold the...

The special patient, part III; How to care mothers-to-be: There may be more than a twinkle in a mother's eyes. They also hold clues to ocular and systemic health. (Patient Care).
March 15, 2002... A pregnant woman needs to make appointments with several doctors and visit some quite frequently. The last doctor she may think about seeing is her eye doctor. Yet pregnancy causes alterations in the human body that can lead to undesirable...

There's more to steroids than meets the eye: Here's what you need to know about prescribing these agents and monitoring patients for ocular side effects. (Optometric Study Center).
March 15, 2002... No doubt, steroids have assumed a major place in optometric practice and will continue to do so. After all, O.D.s may now prescribe topical steroids in 46 states and Washington, D.C., and oral steroids in 16 states. Our armamentarium of...

Aberrations of a higher order: Up to 11 visual aberrations exist. Research is finding new ways of measuring them. (Research Review).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... For years optometrists have measured two distortions of the eye: defocus, which encompasses myopia or hyperopia; and astigmatism. Research now suggests that many other aberrations exist--up to 11 significant higher-order aberrations that can...

To debride or not to debride? You don't always need to debride a corneal abrasion. Here are some clues. (Comanagement Q&A).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Q How do you determine whether you need to debride a corneal abrasion? A Whether you need to debride a corneal abrasion depends largely on two factors: the regularity of the abrasion's borders, and the object that caused the damage. ...

Corneas bubble post-LASIK: A new study reveals LASIK may cause changes to the corneal endothelium. (Cornea & Contact Lens Q&A).(laser in situ keratomileusis)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Q I occasionally see post-LASIK patients who exhibit a "cellular-like" deposit, accompanied by a change in the endothelial surface texture, that seems to disappear in the early postoperative period. What does this actually represent? A...

Medical therapy or surgical treatment? Preliminary data from the CIGTS study challenges traditional use of drops. (Glaucoma Grand Rounds).(Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... A 49-year-old white male presented for a periodic eye examination with a complaint of decreased near vision. His last exam was at a clinic four years earlier, at which time he was diagnosed with early pigmentary dispersion syndrome. He has no...

Mottling, spicules in the left fundus: Are these causing the patient's visual complaints and constricting his visual field? (Retina Quiz).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... A 42-year-old white male came in for a routine eye exam. His only complaint was that he had trouble seeing road signs while driving at night. His last eye exam was about 10 years ago, at which time he was told he did not need glasses. ...

AMT for corneal ulcers: Amniotic membrane transplants show promise in treating corneal ulcers. (Therapeutic Forum).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Christopher J. Quinn A variety of mechanisms related to the breakdown of the epithelial barrier can cause corneal ulcers to form. Viral, bacterial or fungal infection can cause inflammation and subsequent breakdown of the corneal collagen...

Lightweight NCT goes anywhere. (Diagnostic Aids).(non-contact tonometer)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... The PT100 non-contact tonomerer from Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments is portable, cordless and rechargeable. The PT100 NCT can go to hospitals, clinics, adult care facilities, ophthalmic centers and more. This device has an icon-based...

Video Magnifier Upgrades. (Low Vision).(Telesensory Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Telesensory has made a series of upgrades to its Aladdin Genie Pro, a computer-access video magnifier. New features include an automatic focus mechanism with manual override, a magnification range of 3.1x to 50x with a 17-inch SVGA monitor, and...

New tools and training. (Low Vision).(Eschenbach)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Eschenbach has designed two new monocular telescopes for single-hand use, the 4293-316 and 4293-816. They offer magnification of 3.5x and 8x, respectively, and complement the 6x version already available. Both feature a "slide-focus" button...

Lenses that go green. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Ao Sola)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... AO SOLA launched AO b'Active progressive lenses in Transitions Green. Gradients for both power and astigmatism are very low in AO b'Active, the company says. Transitions Green looks neutrally clear indoors, transmitting 84% of visible light in...

Another Next Generation. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Essilor of America Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Essilor of America now offers Next Generation Transitions (Essilor Transitions NG) 1.50 lenses in Varilux Panamic Gray, Essilor Natural Gray, SF Single Vision Gray and ST Bifocal Gray. All the new Essilor Transitions NG products are available...

A 1.60 mini progressive. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Pentax Opthalmic Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Pentax expanded its short-corridor progressive line, the 1.60 AF mini. It is now available in a semi-finished blank or uncut surfaced. AF mini Progressives are designed for a minimum fitting height of 17mm. These aspheric lenses feature Pentax...

Thin & Lite PAL. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Varilux Panamic, Essilor of America Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Essilor of America now offers Varilux Panamic in Thin & Lite 1.67 high-index material. Thinness and flatness are achieved by increasing the index of refraction, using flatter base curves, and by applying the Crizal AR coating technique, which...

Readers with Photochromics. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Smart Readers by Newport Eyes feature Solera photochromic lenses. The frames come in nylon rimless and metal designs. Smart Readers' "Smart Packages" include matching lenses, a protective case and an accessory cord. Available colors are...

Trade-in program. (Optical Labs).(Santinelli International)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Santinelli International now offers a trade-in program for owners of the Santinelli LE-7070 3D-Fit Patternless Edger toward the purchase of the Santinelli LE-9000SX edger. Manufactured by Nidek, the LE-9000 features automated safety beveling,...

All wrapped into one. (Optical Labs).(AIT Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... AIT released a 3-D patternless edging system called the Practica system. It is comprised of two components: the Practica edger and the CNC 3D tracer and blocker. The Practica Edger features a Windows-style user interface, continuous...

Merchandising displays. (Office Design).(Fashion Optical Displays)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Capri, the new line of smooth, curved frame merchandising displays from Fashion Optical Displays, features natural maple and colorful laminates. Capri is available in complete sets featuring either one-slat wall panel and two self units, or...

Furniture collection. (Office Design).(Eye Designs )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Eye Designs presents the Heritage collection of furniture, It features crown molding, halogen lighting and modular base cabinets. Call 1-800-346-8890, or go to www.eyedesigns.com.

Grind more materials. (Optical Labs).(Super Systems Optical Technologies )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Super Systems Optical Technologies expanded the lens material options for its Fast Grind system. Users can now process Transitions Next Generation lenses and Corning's SunSensors and NuPolar polarized lenses on all Fast Grind models. Call...

Educate employers. (Marketing Tools).(computer vision syndrome )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... The CD-ROM is included with the purchase of a Prio instrument and display package, and will be supplied at no cost to doctors who already own these Prio products. Other doctors may purchase the CD-ROM. Call 1-800-621-1098, or go to...

Flexon Select 1114. (Ophthalmic Frame Board).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Marchon Eyewear added T-Wire frames to its Flexon Select collection. These styles are ultra-thin and lightweight, the company says. The bridge and temples are made of Flexon memory material, a titanium-based alloy. Style 1114 is a unisex...

Titmus EXT8. (Ophthalmic Frame Board).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... This unisex safety frame is a new addition to the Titmus titanium collection. It has a rectangular shape and features nickel-free plating. Colors include burgundy, brown and steel. It's available in sizes 49/19-140 and 51/19-145. Call...

Guess? Lighten up. (Ophthalmic Frame Board).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... This new grouping from Viva International includes three frames that feature spring-hinge temples and a three-piece, drill-mount construction reinforced by a stainless steel nose bridge. GU 1075 is a soft rectangular style in colors black,...

Fendi Occhiali FS 252. (Sunwear).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Fendi has added 18 new styles to its sunwear collection. The FS 252 is a square zyl frame with curved temples that display an inlaid Fendi logo. It's available in black, blue, violet and purple, all with gradient tint lenses, and comes in size...

Guess? Living Color. (Sunwear).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... Viva International launched its Living Color sun grouping from Guess? Eyewear. The collection is designed with a rimless, three-piece mount construction in geometric shapes. Each features adjustable nose pads and polycarbonate lenses. Living...

Lens surfacing made simple. (Special Advertising Feature).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2002... To help independent optometrists compete with large optical retailers, super systems optical technologies has designed the fastgrind 2200[R], a compact, affordable method of grinding name-brand prescription lenses and offering your patients...

New horizons in ocular allergy clinical grand rounds.
March 15, 2002... Because the eyes come in direct contact with allergens and possess few protective barriers, they naturally are common sites of allergic response. That means optometrists often are the first care givers patients will turn to about their...

Is patient's GP right to suspect edema? (Diagnostic Quiz).
March 15, 2002... History A 43-year-old white male was referred to our clinic by his general physician to rule our what appeared to the doctor to be disc edema. The patient reported no visual or ocular complaints. His previous ocular and systemic...